Figure 1.--. |
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Morocco has a mixed human rights record. Considerable abuses were reported during King Hassan II's reign (1961-99). Mohammed VI who suceeded his father has attempted to persue modernizing policies. There have been improvements in the civil rights situation, but there are still some complaints. Morocco like several other Arab countries faces a serious problem in trying to improve the civil rights problem in that there are Islamicists elements in Morocco comitted to violent action and willing to persue terror attacks both in Morocco and other countries. This greatly complicated efforts aiming at modernization and democratization. Constitytional reforms approved in 1996 were a major step toward creating a democratic society. Morocco is currently one of the few Arab countries which holds free and fair elections.
Morocco is often grouped with the four other Mediterranean North African Arab states. There are some factors making Morocco unique. Morocco had a thousand-year old recird of independence. Morocco was part of the Islamic Caliphate, but not a part of the Ottoman Empire. There was also a history of relations with Spain. This was most pronounced during the centuries of Islamic rule in Spain, but continued even after the Reconquista creating a unique relationship between the two countries. Geography also made Morocco different. It was the only North African country with an Atlantic coast. This affected the outlook of Moroccans. In addition the status of Tangiers as an internatijal cuty provided contacts with Europeans that other North African countries did not have.
The Moroccan Constitution establishes a hereditary monarchy with an elected Parliament and an independent judiciary. Parliament's authority is limited, although more important than in most Arab countries. Ultimate governmental authority rests with the King, Mohammed VI. The King presides over the Council of Ministers, and appoints or approves Government officials. The King at his discretion, has the authority to dismiss any minister, dissolve the Parliament, call for new elections, and even rule by decree without parliament. Major constitutional changes have been made which make Morocco one of the most democratic countries in the Arab world (1996). The bicameral legislature consists of a lower house, the Chamber of Representatives, which is elected through universal suffrage. There is also an upper house, the Chamber of Counselors, whose members are elected by regional, local, and professional councils. The members of these bodies are elected directly. The Lower House of Parliament also has the authority to dissolve the Government through a vote of no confidence. The first election held under the new constitutional provisions were widely seen as free and fair (September 1996). The judiciary according to the Moroccan Constitution is independemt. In practice, however, it is subject to both government influence and corruption. The Government has instituted some reforms, but the judiciary is still farm from independent.
Mohammed VI who suceeded his father King Hassan II has attempted to persue modernizing policies and this has included preliminary steps toward political reforms. Islamic terrorism has greatly complicated efforts aiming at modernization and democratization. Nevertheless, considerable progress has been made. The country's first free elections occurred affter constitutional reforms (1996). This is one of the few free elections held in Arab countries. King Mohammed after consulting with the major political parties concerning the formation of a new government, decided on former Interior Minister Driss Jettou, a political independent, as the new Prime Minister. Morocco’s most recent elections for the lower chamber of parliament in September 2002 and for local government councils in September 2003—were widely regarded as mostly free and fair. Another reasonably free election was held in September 2007. An Islamic Party finished second. The Government organized included seven eomen, but no members of the Islamic party. This is difficult to assess in terms of political rights. Normally one would want to see representatives from the largest parties in the government, but how do you deal with Islamic parties seeking to curtail basic rights such as secular law, religious freedom, and women's rights.
There is a substantil degree of press freedom in Morocco, especially in comparison to other Arab countries. There are limits to the public debate and jornalists practice a degree of self-cendorship. One of the topics that not be questioned in the Moroccan media is the legitamacy of the country's monarchy or the annexation of the Western Sahara which involved a lengthy guerilla war. Journalists who violate these restrictions or banned from working and fined. An example here is Ali Lmrabet who was banned and fined for reporting on the conflict in the Western Sahara (2005). There are also limitations on political Islam.
The media is one of the areas that King Mohammed VI's reforms has affected. His father's government would deal directly with journalists and publications that violated the estanlished limits on media. King Mohammed's Government uses more subtle measures, including law suits and libel cases. Independent francophone magazines (Tel Quel and Le Journal Hebdomadaire and related Arabic publications Assahifa Al Ousbouia) have widened the rane of press discussion in Morocco. There are reports that Morocco in 2007 has begun to question its move toward press liberalization. One Media group charges that Morocco along with Tunisia were cointries that "sentences the most journalists to prison in the Arab world". [Committee to Protect Journalists]
Morocco has important resources, including the world's largest phosphate reserves. There is also a large tourist industry attracting Europeans and an expanding manufacturing sector. Agriculture still pays an important role, accounting for about 20 percent of GDP and employs 40 percent of the labor force.
The country in terms of economic freedom ranks midway in national comparisons. [Heritage Foundation]. This is the case both world wide and regionally. The Morrocan economic situation varied. There was a relatively high degree of business, fiscal, monetry, and ivestment freedom. Government intervention was moderate. There was, however, limited financial and labor freedom, restrictions on proerty rights, and a continuing problem with coruption. Morocco and the United States signed a free trade agreement (2004).
Women can vote and run for public office in Morocco. They are guaranteed at leadt 10 pecent of the parliament seats. Violence against women, however, is a seruous problem.
The Moroccan Criminal Code provides for severe punishment of men convicted of rape or sexual assault. The defendants in such cases bear the burden of proving their innocence. Women do not have to have witnesses as required under Sharia. There is, however, a strong cultural stigma associated with the loss of virginity.
Thus many victims do not report attacks. Victims' families traditionally may offer rapists the opportunity to marry their victims which is seen as preserving the family's honor. There is no provision for this under Moroccan law, but the custom persists.
Spousal violence as in many Arab countries is common. Many Moroccan men beliece that Islam gives them the right to control their wives, including the use of physical force. A battered wife can file a police complaint, but this is realtively rate, in part because of family diapproval. The legal system discorages a wife from persuing legal action. Violence is an accepted grounds for divorce. A battered woman, however, needs witnesses to prove her case. Medical reports are not sufficient in Moroccan courts to prove abuse. If a battered woman loses her case, the coort returns her to her husband. And this can obviously be very dangerous for the woman involved. As a result, very few women report attacks by their husbands. Spousal rape is not a crime in Morocco. Authorities tend to take little action against men in the case of "honor" crimes against family members. This is the term used in the Arab world for assaults and murder when a female family member has been deemed to be immodest or defiant. It is unclear how extensive this problem is, but occassional instances are reported in the media. An example was reported in Skhirat (March 2002). The father of 17-year old Hanna Bousalhi slit her throat and stabbed her because he believed she was having a relationship with a male classmate
The Moroccan parliament has addressed the issue of the status of women and children. It passed a new family law--Mudawana (2005). Many see it as a progressive measure, at least in regional terms. Moroccan observers report that substantial progress is being made in making the public aware of problems concerning women, children, the handicapped and minorities. A group to work against violance against women was founded (2006).
The Constitution guarantees religious freedom and there is a substantial degree of freedom of religion in Morocco, comprable to that in many Arab countries. Islam is designated by the Constitution as the official state religion and designates the King as "Commander of the Faithful" with the responsibility of ensuring "respect for Islam." This and public attitudes in this predominately Islamic country places some restrictions on other religions. Generally Moroccan have been tolerant toward othe religions. There are restrictions on Christian proselytizing and publishing. The Government has restricted Islamic political activities. The Government monitors mosques and intervenes if activities make the transition from religion to politics. Authorities restrict Islamic organizations whose activities were found to have taken on a political nature. Here the Government actions are less based on religion than the political basis and the involvemet with terrorism. Morocco had one of the largest Jewish communities in the Arab world. Most Jews emigrated from the country after World War II beginning with the First Isreali-Arab War. A small Jewish community continues to esist.
Morocco like several other Arab countries faces a serious problem in trying to improve the civil rights problem in that there are Islamicists elements in Morocco comitted to violent action and willing to persue terror attacks both in Morocco and other countries.
Islamic terrrists, many from Morocco, killed 191 pople when they bombed Madris trains. Moroccans were also among the 30 people arrested in a plot to blow up the Spanish High Court.
The security apparatus in Morocco is substantial, but under civilian control. There are several overlapping police and paramilitary organizations. The Ministry of the Interior control both the Border Police and the National Security Police.
The Ministry of Justic control the Judicial Police. The King directly controls the Royal Gendarmerie.
Human rights groups complain of serious human rights abuses. Such incidents appears to have declined under King Mohammed VI.
Public attitudes tend to see homosexuality as imoral. Homosexuality is a crime in Morocco. Article 489 of the Penal Code makes homosexuality a crime with can bring prison sentences of 6 months to 3 years imprisonment and a fine of 120 to 1200 Dirhams. In practice there is a substantial degree of tolerance in Morocco. Actual prosecutions are rare.
Committee to Protect Journalists. "10 countries where press freedom has most deteriorated," May 2, 2007.
Heritage Foundation. "Index of Economic Freedom: Morocco," (2007).
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