Morocco is set to vote on abolishing the death penalty, a significant step for human rights in the country. This decision marks the first time Morocco will support the United Nations’ resolution on a death penalty moratorium, scheduled for the UN General Assembly on December 15. Justice Minister Abdellatif Ouahbi informed the Moroccan Parliament on December 9 that the country is committed to protecting the right to life, as outlined in its Constitution.
The move includes a two-year moratorium on executions, with plans to amend the penal code to permanently abolish capital punishment. Although executions have been suspended since 1993, individuals convicted of aggravated murder are still placed on death row. There are currently 88 people on death row, including one woman.
Activists and opposition groups are pushing for broader reforms. The National Human Rights Council has highlighted that, before the suspension, the death penalty was often politically motivated, with 38 out of 41 executions being politically charged. The Moroccan Coalition for Human Rights is calling for the complete abolition of the death penalty from all laws.
While most opposition parties support the move, the Islamist Justice and Development Party (PJD) has remained silent on the issue, citing the need for a national and religious dialogue, given Sharia law considerations. In the region, Morocco’s shift provides a glimmer of hope, but calls for broader reforms continue, with activists seeking to end politically motivated judicial decisions and ensure greater protections for freedom of speech and human rights.
