Morocco Rejects Human Rights Watch Claims, Defends Judicial Independence

Like a shepherd’s response to the shepherdess, the Moroccan authorities have responded to the international human rights institution. They reminded it that the separation of powers, a sacrosanct principle, is still in force in Morocco. "The judiciary is independent by virtue of the Constitution and the implementation of the guarantees of the independence of the magistrates falls under the prerogatives of the Supreme Council of the Judiciary, a special constitutional institution, independent of the executive and legislative powers," they specified in a statement published online.

According to the government, the case defended by HRW is entrusted to the justice system. The accused is being prosecuted for his alleged involvement in acts incriminated by the Moroccan Penal Code.

The same source maintains that this judicial prosecution has nothing to do with the journalist status of the defendant, which is governed by the Press and Publishing Code. It also adds that the status of journalist does not in any way exclude judicial proceedings in the event that the acts attributed to him constitute material and moral legal elements of a crime that falls under public law.

The government also denounces HRW’s attempts to interfere in cases that do not fall within the framework of the defense of human rights, as was the case in its latest publication, which tried to sow doubt in judgments.