Minister of Justice Mr. Abdellatif Ouahi has confirmed that the debate about death penalty between its supports and anti-supporters of its abolition is being renewed from time to time and thus reflects the society pulse “and this is what we are following closely in waiting for reaching a consensus orientation that would reflect the society willingness”.
Minister Ouahbi has praised in his statement the works of the 13th international convention of Ministers of Justice held last Wednesday, March 1, 2023 on the topic “a world without death penalty”, no justice without life”.
Minister Ouahbi has stated that the Moroccan Kingdom is witnessing a major legislative project aims at reforming penal justice in compliance with international agreements adopted by Morocco and safeguarded by the constitution.
Minister Ouahbi has made clear that death penalty is still subject of big societal debate and considered as one of the most important major projects of the penal judiciary reform and also reflects the orientation of Moroccan penal policy to interact positively with UN resolution 77/2002 endorsed by human rights committee in April 2002, about death penalty, which has called on all countries which continue to practice death to reduce it progressively, in preparation to abolish it definitely.
According to the Minister, royal amnesty plays a primary role in establishing a balance of penitentiary policy and the restriction of number of persons condemned. A total of 156 cases have been registered between 2000 until today.
In waiting for the outcome of the public debate between foes and supporters of capital punishment, penal policy has leaned on the implementation of many measures to achieve a progressive reduction according to a restrictive approach.