Morocco: Mothers freed from paternal authorization for minors’ passports

It took decades for Morocco to decide to lift the requirement for the mother to request the father’s authorization to obtain or renew the Moroccan passport for minor children. The Moroccan consulates in New York and Madrid are already implementing this decision. The New York consulate justifies this measure by a desire to "simplify procedures". As for the Madrid consulate, it mentions a circular from the Ministry of the Interior informing "prefectures and provinces" that it is now possible for the mother to "obtain, withdraw and renew" the passports of her minor children, without "express and prior authorization from the father". According to the two diplomatic representations, the new rule applies except in case of a judgment that provides otherwise.

Describing this decision as a "real achievement for the Moroccan community abroad", Mounya Allali, researcher in human sciences and Advisor on relations with Arab universities in Italy, hopes for a generalization to all of Morocco’s representations in the world. This is a decision that makes Morocco a pioneer country, compared to many countries, including European countries, where this right granted to mothers is not even yet introduced in the discussion circuits of legislative institutions, she declared to the daily Al Ahdath Al Maghribia, considering that it is a good omen for the long-awaited revision of the Family Code.

This decision puts an end to an injustice. In Morocco, Article 230 of the Family Code grants the right of custody to the woman in case of divorce, and guardianship systematically to the father. The latter remains the sole legal representative of the children.