Morocco’s lawyers have announced an indefinite suspension of professional services as tensions escalate over a draft law governing the legal profession, deepening a dispute between bar associations and the government over the future of the sector.
The decision was taken following an open meeting held in Rabat to assess the progress of the draft legislation, amid growing concerns among legal professionals about its treatment in parliament and its potential impact on the independence of the profession.
In a statement issued Friday, the association representing lawyers criticized the way parliamentary discussions are being conducted, arguing that the debate has drifted away from the core issues at stake. The group accused representatives of the Ministry of Justice of focusing on matters unrelated to the fundamental principles of the bill.
According to the statement, discussions have increasingly centered on what lawyers describe as secondary issues, rather than addressing key questions related to the profession’s independence, self-governance and role within Morocco’s justice system.
The association called on the government to respect previous commitments regarding the draft law, arguing that growing support for the strike demonstrates lawyers’ determination to protect the autonomy of their profession.
The move follows a nationwide warning strike observed from June 15 to June 21, which saw lawyers across much of the country suspend their activities in protest against the proposed reforms.
Lawyers have also accused Justice Minister Abdellatif Ouahbi of making repeated remarks they consider offensive toward lawyers and their representative institutions. The association said such comments reflect a lack of respect for the profession and its role in safeguarding the rule of law.
However, the protest has not received unanimous support across the country. The Casablanca Bar Association announced that it would continue operating and would not participate in the open-ended strike within its jurisdiction, while affirming its respect for the positions adopted by other bar associations.
The Casablanca Bar Council said its decision followed a meeting held Saturday to review the latest developments surrounding the bill, which continues to generate debate over several of its provisions as it advances through the legislative process.
The dispute highlights growing tensions between legal professionals and the government over reforms that lawyers say could reshape the profession and alter its relationship with Morocco’s judicial institutions.
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