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Lawyers Announce Comprehensive Service Suspension in Protest Against Professional Law Draft
The Association of Bar Associations in Morocco has announced a ramped-up protest program, which includes a complete suspension of professional services starting Tuesday, January 6, in response to what they consider a serious threat to the independence of the legal profession and an unjustified withdrawal from dialogue and cooperation with the Ministry of Justice.
In a statement issued following a meeting of its office to evaluate the outcomes of the extraordinary council held in Marrakech, the association clarified that the professional community is increasingly concerned about what it described as the ministry’s departure from the agreed-upon participatory methodology, especially after a parliamentary mediation meeting and its disregard for the outcomes of dialogue sessions and the comments and proposals submitted to it.
The office expressed its pride in the sense of responsibility and professional unity that characterized the extraordinary council’s discussions, while also expressing regret for what it deemed unfathomable behavior that could undermine trust and disrupt institutional dialogue between both parties.
The same source declared its absolute rejection of the final version of the draft law on the legal profession as submitted to the government, asserting that it undermines the independence and fundamental principles of the profession. It called for the draft’s withdrawal and insisted it should not be resubmitted until it incorporates the views of the Association of Bar Associations in Morocco, as the sole legitimate representative of the profession.
The statement emphasized that lawyers are not interested in any professional law that does not respect the uniqueness of the legal profession, which is a humanitarian and rights-based vocation before being a job, and that does not ensure strong legal representation capable of protecting the right to defense and contributing to the establishment of fair trial conditions as a fundamental cornerstone in building a democratic state.
The association also urged entities unrelated to the legislation to refrain from intervening in the preparation or reporting of the draft law on the legal profession, adhering to the principle of jurisdiction to ensure the profession’s independence.
The Association of Bar Associations in Morocco holds the Ministry of Justice fully responsible for what it described as a reckless breach of its commitments, reaffirming its continued defense of the independence and dignity of the legal profession.
