Marrakech Officials Investigate Illegal Sales of Collective Lands

The case of the spoliation of Soulaliyate lands is officially before the Justice system. Karim Kassi-Lahlou, Wali of Marrakech, has seized the Attorney General at the Court of Appeal to open a file on these "illegal transactions" recorded in the region, reports Médias24. He had in the meantime questioned the elected officials on the phenomenon of illegal transfers of Soulaliyate land. The transfer of these properties, which are under the supervision of the Ministry of the Interior, is in principle prohibited. Only the agreement of the community concerned and the observance of complex procedures can make it possible.

In his referral, Karim Kassi-Lahlou points the finger at the contracts of lawyers at the Marrakech bar, which constitute a tool to circumvent the cumbersome procedure for the transfer of collective lands. These lawyers claim Article 4 of the Real Rights Code to act: since 2011, "all acts relating to the transfer of ownership or the creation of other real rights or their assignment, modification or cancellation must - under penalty of nullity - be drawn up by official deed or by deed with a certain date, by a lawyer approved by the Court of Cassation". However, Soulaliyate properties are subject to special protection and are subject to a specific regime.

The rural commune of Souihla is the area highlighted by the Ministry of the Interior in the ochre city. Its "signature authentication service" "proceeds to validate, without the necessary verifications, the contracts of lawyers relating to the transfer or renunciation of collective properties without taking into account law 62.17 on the administrative supervision of Soulaliyate communities," it is specified. Yet the same law provides for sanctions ranging from 1 to 5 years in prison against "persons who participate in the preparation of documents bearing the transfer or renunciation of these properties".