Morocco’s Land Spoliation Crisis: Advocacy Group Appeals to King Mohammed VI

The land mafia dictates its law with all its corollaries in Morocco, despite the royal instructions issued in 2016. If, for the time being, only a few advances are noted, the results are far from satisfying the demands of the victims. The fight continues with the Association for Law and Justice in Morocco (ADJM), after years of complaints and relentless struggle by the victims, among whom a majority of Moroccans residing abroad, not to mention the recent death of Dr. Gérard Benitah, a fighter against spoliation for several years.

In a letter addressed to King Mohammed VI, the signatories denounced the damage to the image of Morocco and its judicial institutions, the loss of confidence that Moroccans living abroad may feel in their homeland, at a time when the Kingdom is tirelessly working for a "New Development Model". This effort by the Kingdom, according to the ADM "will only make sense if we regain the legal security that has been lost today".

The members of the association also insisted on the "very serious human damage" suffered by the victims, caused by an organized and repeat offender network. The signatories called for an investigation to clarify the strange death of Dr. Benitah.

In this letter, the signatories also point to the multiplicity of files as well as the "impunity" that prevails, the conviction of repeat offenders to many years in prison but who are not incarcerated, or are released prematurely. Faced with this injustice, the association calls for an immediate reaction.