Morocco: Bronca over controversial bill ends in suspension

Text by: RFI Follow

The Moroccan government opted Sunday 4 May for the suspension of a controversial bill which restricts social networks and open distribution networks (like youtube for example).

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" The law to muzzle speech ". This is how this bill, number 22.20, was baptized by Moroccans who refuse what they consider to be an attack on the fundamental freedom guaranteed by the Constitution. According to the government, the project aims " to fight against new trends in electronic crimes " but former ministers, political party leaders, civil society actors and human rights defenders have all rebelled against the text. The government has been accused of " using the health emergency to muzzle Moroccans ".

Struck by the seal of confidentiality, only the ministers were aware of the content of this law. But two weeks after the green light from the executive, the text leaked into the press causing a heated controversy.

The text provides for tougher freedom of expression and prison terms of up to three years for anyone calling for " boycott of products or services " on social media.

"Wait for the right moment" to discuss it

In " its current form, it will not be presented to Parliament, " said Mohamad ben Abdelakader, the Minister of Justice. He said he wanted to wait for the "right moment " to discuss the project, alluding to the coronavirus crisis.
For several days, members of the government and their parties have been blaming each other: the ruling Justice and Development Party (PJD) announces at the end of its last meeting its desire " to guarantee essential rights and freedoms ", thus throwing the shot in the court of the Minister of Justice.

The Socialist Union, from which came the Minister of Justice, initiator of this bill refuses to bear sole responsibility and recalls that it was " the Council of Ministers which ratified the text on March 19 ".

Finally, the government backs down. Mustapha Rmeid, the minister responsible for human rights, wrote on his Facebook page: " these reactions have their decisive values ​​in order to adjust the pace of general government policy ".

This Monday, most of the Moroccan opposition, Justice and Benevolence, asked in addition to the outright withdrawal of the controversial bill, the resignation of the Minister of Justice.

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