Justice Minister: Debate on death penalty in Morocco, part of responsible & in-depth national dialogue

The debate on death penalty in Morocco is part of an in-depth national dialogue, conducted in a spirit of responsibility and openness, with the participation of constitutional institutions, political actors, magistrates, academics and civil society, Minister of Justice Abdellatif Ouahbi affirmed.

Speaking at the 9th World Congress against the Death Penalty, which opened on Monday in Paris attended by heads of State, ministers, representatives of international organizations, experts and stakeholders engaged in the promotion of human rights, Ouahbi stressed that this reflection falls fully in line with the major reforms carried out under the enlightened leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, aimed at consolidating the Rule of Law, strengthening the guarantees of fundamental rights and freedoms, and modernizing the judicial system.

On this occasion, Ouahbi recalled that the Kingdom has not carried out any executions for over thirty years. He stressed that this situation is the culmination of a continuous process of judicial reform, marked by strengthening judicial guarantees, the evolution of the legislative framework and constructive engagement with international human rights mechanisms.

The minister recalled that Morocco’s vote, in 2024, in favor of the United Nations General Assembly resolution calling for a universal moratorium on the application of the death penalty is an important step in the Kingdom’s commitment to a responsible international dialogue on this issue.

At the close of his address, the minister of Justice announced, on behalf of the Kingdom, Morocco’s candidacy to host the 10th World Congress against the Death Penalty.

This initiative illustrates the Kingdom’s determination to further its contribution to the international dialogue on human rights as a land of dialogue and coexistence between Africa, Europe and the Arab world.