Maroc lawyers protest new law threatening professional independence

With crimson armbands wrapped tightly around their wrists, lawyers on an open-ended strike have regrouped once again outside Parliament in Rabat. Their determination remains unshaken as they escalate pressure against what they view as a dangerous legislative rollback.

The sea of black robes gathered at the protest site is unified in their objection to the proposed law governing their profession. At the heart of their concerns lies the perceived erosion of their autonomy vis-à-vis the public prosecutor’s office and the Ministry of Justice. Specific grievances include the planned shift of disciplinary authority to the Ministry of Justice, as well as new rules governing professional entry—most notably, lowering the minimum age for qualification exam candidates.

During an earlier demonstration last Thursday, legal representatives made their stance unmistakably clear, declaring “this fight is only beginning” and vowing to intensify their campaign until the bill is withdrawn.

Aziz Rouibah, President of the Rabat Bar Association, emphasized the existential threat facing the profession. “Our very survival is at risk,” he stated, asserting that certain factions within the government are attempting to “symbolically dismantle the legal profession.” He framed the ongoing strike as both a moral and professional obligation, condemning what he described as a “relentless legislative assault on the foundations of justice.”

An appeal to lawmakers

Mounir Belghiti, a member of the Rabat Bar Council, framed the ongoing sit-in as a final plea to legislators. The duration of the protest, he noted, will hinge entirely on parliamentary developments. Belghiti urged that any future legislation must reflect the “values of the nation and the future,” prioritizing the public good over what he termed “personal vendettas.”

The legal community warns that the current impasse stems from a profound crisis of trust. “Undermining the integrity of legal consensus and legislation by imposing tailor-made laws for exceptional circumstances erodes one of democracy’s core pillars,” Belghiti cautioned. He stressed that such measures risk dismantling the very framework that sustains judicial independence.

Parliamentary debate looms

This week, discussions on the controversial bill are set to resume in the Chamber of Advisors. Should amendments be adopted, the proposal will return to the Justice Commission of the Chamber of Representatives for a second reading.

In the meantime, Morocco’s courts remain severely disrupted by the indefinite strike. Many litigants face mounting uncertainty, particularly pre-trial detainees whose hearings have been postponed for nearly a month.

The Moroccan Bar Association (ABAM), also known as the National Association of Moroccan Bar Associations, serves as the umbrella organization uniting all local bar councils nationwide.