Claims circulating online say that taking photos of dams in Morocco is illegal under the so-called “Article 65 of the security law,” but no law explicitly bans it.
This comes as several people share pictures of dam levels and the recent release of excess water, with Oued El Makhazine at full capacity and flood risks rising.
The circulating posts claim that “Article 65 of Morocco’s Internal Security Law states that anyone who takes photos or films military or security sites, dams, or other strategic facilities without prior authorization from the relevant authorities shall be punished with six months to five years in prison and a fine of MAD 1,000 to MAD 100,000.”
Chouaib Lamsahl, a lawyer and head of the Moroccan Center for Legal Awareness, told Hespress English that taking photos in itself is not an offense.
Yet, “there are only provisions that consider dams to have a special status, and taking pictures of them with the intent to threaten national security is punishable by law.”
Is there a legal text prohibiting taking pictures of dams?
No. According to the head of the Moroccan Center for Legal Awareness, there is no legal text in the Criminal Code or any other law published in the Official Gazette that explicitly bans taking pictures of dams.
Does Law 30.15 on dam safety ban taking pictures of dams?
No. There is no article in the law that explicitly prohibits the general public from taking pictures of dams or treats it as a national security crime.
The only article in Law 30.15 that mentions photography is Article 22, which applies to authorized personnel assigned to carry out dam safety monitoring.
It “grants them the right to access the site at any time, including operational dams, dams under construction, and all equipment and facilities necessary for their operation, to inspect the site and take pictures of the dam, its equipment, and devices.”
Could taking pictures of dams be punishable?
While there is no specific law banning photography of dams as infrastructure, sensitive facilities may be subject to restrictions based on security instructions or considerations, the lawyer said.
These include “strategic and sensitive infrastructure, such as certain military or security sites, which may be considered part of national security, and photographing them without prior authorization is often restricted.”
He stressed that this is not based on a clear provision in the Moroccan Criminal Code, but usually follows directives from security authorities intended to protect sensitive sites.
“Large dams can sometimes be classified as part of critical water security, which may lead authorities to treat them in a special manner,” Lamsahl added.
Is taking pictures an offense?
There is no criminal offense for taking pictures in public spaces, even if people appear in them. Yet, the law does criminalize infringing on someone’s privacy and dignity, including taking or sharing their photos without their consent.
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