Dozens of Moroccan press unions, publishers’ associations and human rights groups said Saturday they will stage nationwide protests against a new law reorganizing the country’s National Press Council.
In a joint statement, the groups said the legislation was pushed through parliament “at record speed” without meaningful consultation with journalists, media organizations or civil society. They argued the measure undermines the constitutionally guaranteed principle of independent self-regulation and opens the door to political and economic interference in the press.
The statement accused authorities of sidelining professional and union bodies that traditionally manage the sector, calling the move an “unprecedented overreach” with potentially serious political, social and professional consequences.
Organizers said the campaign will include local sit-ins, regional marches and national demonstrations, with dates and locations to be announced at an upcoming press conference. They also plan to meet with lawmakers, political parties, lawyers’ associations, human rights bodies and academic institutions to rally opposition to the law.
The signatories vowed to support any initiative opposing what they described as a “regressive” measure. Leading the campaign are the National Union of the Moroccan Press, the Moroccan Federation of Newspaper Publishers, the National Union of Media and Journalism, the Moroccan Human Rights Association, Transparency Morocco, the Moroccan Coalition of Human Rights Bodies and several regional press clubs and legal associations.
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