UN | Morocco to vote on abolition of death penalty

Morocco is set to vote on the abolition of the death penalty for the first time, marking a milestone in the country’s human rights history. Justice Minister Abdellatif Ouahbi announced on 9 December that Morocco will support the UN resolution for a moratorium on the death penalty to be discussed at the UN General Assembly on 15 December.

“This is a commitment to protecting the right to life, in line with the Moroccan Constitution,” Ouahbi told Parliament, referencing Article 20 of the national document. The vote will introduce a two-year moratorium on executions, with plans to amend the penal code for permanent abolition.

The Moroccan Justice and Development Party (PJD) reaffirmed its position following an extraordinary leadership session on Tuesday and a communiqué issued yesterday. While acknowledging Morocco’s anticipated support for the UN resolution, the PJD stressed its principled stance on retaining the death penalty for the gravest crimes.

“We have reaffirmed our principled stance on maintaining the death penalty for the gravest crimes, such as premeditated murder and violations of the right to life, in line with the sanctions prescribed by the Holy Qur’an,” said the party.

The PJD argued further that the death penalty provides a “sense of justice” to victims’ families and serves as both a deterrent and a means of calming societal unrest.

The PJD opposes the government's decision to vote in favor of the UN General Assembly resolution advocating a moratorium on the death penalty. "We have reaffirmed our principled stance on maintaining the death penalty for the gravest crimes, such as premeditated murder and violations of the right to life, in line with the sanctions prescribed by the Holy Quran", stated the PJD's general secretariat in a communiqué issued on Wednesday, December 11.

The party argues that the death penalty «ensures justice for society and the families of victims of heinous crimes that disturb public opinion and collective sentiment». PJD also emphasized that the punishment «serves a strong deterrent function».

The PJD highlighted that Morocco has not carried out an execution since 1993, although courts continue to sentence individuals to death, particularly for crimes like murder and terrorism. Currently, 88 people remain on death row. The communiqué concluded with a caution against abolishing the death penalty in the country.

Morocco has abstained from previous UN resolutions for over two decades.

Human rights activists see the decision as a significant step. The Moroccan Coalition for Human Rights stated: “We will continue our struggle until Morocco abolishes the death penalty from all civil and military laws.”

The National Human Rights Council reported that of Morocco’s 41 executions, 38 were politically motivated. Since 2020, 161 death sentences have been commuted to life imprisonment, reflecting Morocco’s gradual shift away from capital punishment.

Source: middleeastmonitor.com, Staff, December 12, 2024

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