Justice Minister Abdellatif Wahbi revealed that the drafting of the new penal code is complete, but it has been subject to intense internal discussion within the ministry for nearly two years. During this period, the text has moved through various stages, from expert consultations to the minister’s office, without reaching a definitive conclusion. Wahbi, speaking during a question-and-answer session at the House of Councillors, described himself as neither an optimist nor a pessimist, but rather a “cautious optimist,” affirming that his orientations are well-known and that the text must reflect his political and intellectual convictions.
The minister emphasized that the new law must be based on the visions of the government and the minister, stating that if this is not the case, “it is better not to issue it.” He pointed out the urgent need for a modern penal code that aligns with societal changes, addressing issues such as artificial intelligence, social media, and the protection of privacy.
Wahbi explained that current penalties, such as life imprisonment and the death penalty, require bold reassessment, as they have lost their meaning in the current societal context. He added that the law should provide real answers to security and societal challenges, confirming that what is needed is a modern and effective law that accommodates alternative penalties and moves away from outdated solutions.
The minister questioned what kind of law the state desires: is it a modern text that respects developments in criminal law or merely a continuation of old practices? He indicated that the law should treat offenders as members of society and address the phenomenon within a comprehensive legal framework.
In his interaction with the Authenticity and Modernity Party, the minister transitioned to discussing workplace accidents, criticizing the decree concerning road accident compensations issued in 1984 as one of the worst laws due to its lack of fairness—it grants high compensations to the wealthy while neglecting the poor, based on income-calculation criteria.
He noted that his ministry is working on revising these texts in coordination with the Ministry of Finance and insurance companies, leading to an adjustment of the minimum compensation from 9,270 dirhams to 14,270 dirhams, along with improvements in procedural timelines and the expansion of covered incidents to include “trams” and activating the role of the Compensatory Fund.
Wahbi revealed that the fund, established to compensate victims, had not even covered legal fees for lawyers, but it has improved over the past two years, paying 90 million dirhams in 2023 and 43 million dirhams by the end of April 2025, with a goal to clear all outstanding debts within two years.
He also addressed the issue of children in contact with the law, in response to a question from the Istiqlal party, stressing that the core issue is related to the family and that the government is considering holding parents criminally responsible for their minor children’s actions, especially in cases such as carrying knives in public places.
Wahbi also mentioned that discussions are open about assigning part of this responsibility to teachers if a student commits a criminal act after leaving the educational institution, concluding that the upcoming penal code should reinstate the principle of parental responsibility through procedures and fines that encourage family oversight.
