A group of animal rights activists drafted a legislative proposal aimed at strengthening animal protection laws in Morocco. The proposed legislation is expected to be submitted to Parliament in the near future.
The drafting committee has finalized the proposal, which complies with the requirements outlined in Law No. 64.14 governing the submission of legislative proposals and Article 14 of the Constitution.
“The reality demands that we have strict laws to protect animals as sentient beings with intrinsic value,” the proposal states.
“By protecting them from diseases, regulating their reproduction, and ownership, we are directly protecting citizens from related health risks,” the proposal added.
The proposal noted the significant financial resources allocated by the government to address issues related to stray animals, particularly rabies.
The Ministry of Health and Social Protection alone allocates over MAD 80 million annually to combat rabies, while the Ministry of the Interior contributes millions more to support local authorities in managing stray dog and cat populations.
“Animals have become a part of our citizens’ lives and families,” the proposal said. “It is illogical that we have veterinary clinics, pet food companies, and other related businesses, yet we lack strict laws to protect them,” it added.
Yassine Eraaman, the lead petitioner and president of the Animal Welfare Association, stressed the need for stricter laws in light of the increasing number of animal cruelty cases.
According to official figures from the Ministry of the Interior, over 3 million stray dogs have been killed since 2000.
Eraaman said to Hespress Ar that while the penal code includes provisions addressing animal cruelty, these laws are insufficient and lack the necessary deterrence.
“We have observed that developed countries have robust animal protection laws, while Morocco has been ranked among the lowest in terms of animal rights protection. This is a negative reflection on our country, especially as we prepare to host major international events,” Eraaman said.
The proposed legislation outlines a range of penalties, including imprisonment and fines, for individuals who commit acts of animal cruelty. The draft law also prohibits the trade of domesticated animals without prior administrative authorization.
The petitioners have proposed specific penalties for various acts of animal cruelty. For example, intentionally killing an animal not owned by another person would be punishable by imprisonment of six months to one year and a fine of 1000 to MAD 5000.
The offender would also be prohibited from working with minors for five years and from owning any animals for ten years. Repeat offenders would face doubled penalties.
The intentional killing of an owned animal would be punishable by imprisonment of one to three years, a fine of 2000 to MAD10000, and compensation to the animal’s owner for all expenses incurred throughout the animal’s life.
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