SOCIETY

Moroccan lawyers announce total strike from November 1

In an unprecedented move, the Moroccan Bar Association (ABAM) announced the complete suspension of defense activities from November 1, in reaction to judicial reforms deemed unfavorable to the achievements of litigants and the rights of lawyers. Through this movement, lawyers express their firm opposition to what they perceive as an attempt to marginalize their essential role in the Moroccan judicial system.

Faced with what it considers to be a “legislative regression”, ABAM calls on all of its members to mobilize to defend the constitutional rights of citizens and guarantee the balance of the judicial system. In a press release, she warns against the effects of a reform carried out unilaterally, without consultation with the main stakeholders. This decision reflects the growing dissatisfaction of the profession with the initiatives of the Ministry of Justice, led by Minister Abdellatif Ouahbi.

A protest movement against contested reforms

The ABAM decision is seen as an escalation in a standoff between lawyers and the Ministry of Justice. The planned revisions to the Codes of Civil and Criminal Procedure are described by the Association as measures likely to undermine the achievements of the profession. Despite repeated requests to revise certain provisions, Minister Ouahbi remains intransigent, which has pushed the Association to harden its position.

The ABAM press release, published on Saturday, emphasizes that this suspension of defense activities is without time limit, pending a significant response from the government. It also enjoins the Presidents and Councils of the Order to coordinate and supervise this suspension on a national scale, marking unwavering unity among Moroccan lawyers in the face of this crisis.

Demands for more equitable reform

ABAM expresses its concerns about the risks that this reform poses to the rights of citizens to fair and informed access to justice. According to her, the government’s current approach, which she describes as “one-way judicial reform”, seeks to resolve the problems of justice to the detriment of the achievements of legal professionals. On the contrary, the Association advocates a participatory and inclusive reform, taking into account the interests of all parties involved.

Lawyers are demanding, among other things, a fairer tax system, improvement of the social conditions of the profession, including compulsory health coverage, as well as strengthening access to legal assistance for citizens. These demands are presented as fundamental requirements to guarantee the modernization of legislation while preserving social and constitutional achievements.

A call for dialogue in a spirit of responsibility

ABAM reaffirms its commitment to constructive dialogue to defend the interests of litigants and professionals, while preserving the balance of the judicial system. It welcomes the support of its members, engaged in this fight for a reform that respects their fundamental role in society. In this spirit, the Moroccan Bar Association calls on all lawyers to continue their efforts, to maintain mobilization and to remain united to achieve the objectives of this essential struggle.

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