Lower house passes criminal procedure reform after heated debate

The House of Representatives on Tuesday approved, by majority vote, Bill No. 03.23 concerning the Code of Criminal Procedure.

The vote, held during a legislative session attended by Minister of Justice Abdellatif Ouahbi, followed nearly eight hours of deliberation. The bill received the backing of 130 Members of Parliament, with 40 voting against and none abstaining.

In his opening statement, Minister Ouahbi described the bill as a “qualitative and exceptional milestone” in the process of modernizing the national criminal justice system. 

He stressed that the legislation aligns with Morocco’s constitutional advances and international obligations, striking a careful balance between safeguarding public security and protecting individual rights and freedoms.

The minister noted that the Justice and Legislation Committee had reviewed 1,384 proposed amendments to the bill

“This is not just another law,” Ouahbi emphasized. “It is the constitution of criminal justice in Morocco,” introducing vital mechanisms to reinforce defendants’ rights, enhance the role of legal defense, uphold fair trial guarantees, and bolster tools to combat crime, including organized and emerging forms of criminality.

Among the core innovations highlighted by the minister are the strengthening of legal safeguards during preliminary investigations, upholding the presumption of innocence, and prohibiting the interpretation of silence as an implicit confession.

 The bill also enhances protections for victims of human trafficking, in accordance with international standards.

Additional provisions include the expanded use of digital technologies in criminal procedures, rationalized and reduced reliance on pre-trial detention, and improved frameworks for rehabilitation and reintegration, such as simplified processes for expungement, payment of fines, and alternative sentencing.

Minister Ouahbi emphasized that this bill forms part of a broader justice reform strategy led by the Ministry of Justice.

 It complements other key initiatives, including legislation on alternative sanctions and prison system restructuring, all contributing to the overarching goal of modernizing Morocco’s criminal justice landscape.