Morocco’s adouls, or Islamic notaries, have announced an open-ended nationwide strike starting April 13, escalating a standoff with the Justice Ministry over a disputed draft law regulating the profession.
The decision was announced following a meeting of the executive office of the National Authority of Adouls on April 3 in Rabat. The strike will involve a full suspension of services across courts nationwide, marking a significant escalation in protests that have been ongoing for weeks.
The professional body said the move reflects growing frustration over what it described as a lack of consultation and a continued deadlock with the ministry regarding draft law No. 16.22. It reiterated its rejection of the bill in its current form, saying its proposals and amendments have not been taken into account.
The latest escalation follows a series of earlier protests, including a two-day strike on Feb. 18-19, a nationwide work stoppage from March 2 to March 10, and further disruptions through early April. Adouls also staged a demonstration outside parliament on April 2.
The profession argues that several provisions in the draft law do not reflect the realities of their work and could weaken their role in authenticating legal documents and securing transactions. They also criticized what they described as overly restrictive measures and an imbalance in the organization of the legal sector.
In addition to the strike, adouls plan to hold a nationwide sit-in outside parliament on April 13, calling for what they described as a “serious, responsible and productive” dialogue with authorities. They are also demanding the withdrawal or suspension of the draft law.
The National Authority stressed the importance of the adouls’ role in Morocco’s legal system and said any reform of the sector should be based on a participatory approach that takes into account practical realities.
The suspension of services is expected to disrupt a range of administrative and legal procedures. The professional body said responsibility for the disruption lies with authorities’ failure to resolve the dispute.
A press conference is expected in the coming days to outline the next steps in the protest movement.
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