Prominent Moroccan Human Rights Lawyer Abderrahim Berrada Dies at 83

The news of the lawyer’s death was announced by his family and close friends. Born in 1938, Me Abderrahim Berrada was one of the leading figures of the Casablanca bar. He started his career in 1962 at the Paris bar and specialized in political affairs.

Back in Casablanca, his hometown, he became involved in left-wing activism, and devoted his career to defending members of the UNFP (ex-USFP) and other political activists during the years of lead. He was also the lawyer for the opponent Abraham Serfati, a close friend of Omar Benjelloun and Mehdi Ben Barka, two leading figures of the Moroccan left.

Given his skills, a ministerial position had been offered to him during the reign of King Hassan II. But he declined the offer. Abderrahim Berrada is the second great figure of the bar to die in the space of two days. The Casablanca Bar Association had announced the death a day earlier of the former bâtonnier Abdellatif Bouachrine, former secretary general of the Union of Arab Lawyers.