Moroccan lawmaker orders photographers out of parliament chamber

A row over media access broke out in Morocco’s lower house on Monday after deputy speaker Idriss Chattibi asked accredited photographers to leave the chamber at the start of a plenary session, citing the House of Representatives’ internal rules.

Chattibi, who chaired the first oral questions session of the spring term’s final stretch, said photographers were contributing to disruption.

Article 157 of the chamber’s rules allows accredited photographers into the hall but says they may not continue shooting once plenary proceedings begin, according to the House of Representatives website. 

The move revived debate over the balance between internal order in parliament and press access, particularly during the closing months of the current legislative term.