With red armbands firmly wrapped around their sleeves, Moroccan lawyers have intensified their indefinite strike, gathering once again on July 6th outside the Parliament building in Rabat. The legal professionals remain steadfast in their opposition to a draft law they argue undermines their profession and democratic values.
Dressed in their signature black robes, lawyers at the protest express deep concerns over the bill’s provisions. They highlight threats to their professional independence, particularly regarding disciplinary oversight by the judiciary and Justice Ministry. The proposed legislation also shifts control over lawyer training to the Justice Ministry and introduces contentious changes to professional entry requirements, including lowering the age threshold for qualification exams.
Last Thursday’s demonstration at the same location saw bar association representatives issue a stern warning. They declared that the fight was only beginning and vowed to escalate their campaign unless the controversial legislation is withdrawn. The mood remains combative, with organizers refusing to back down.
Aziz Rouibah, President of the Rabat Bar Association, emphasized the gravity of the situation in a recent statement. «We are fighting for our very existence,» he declared. He accused unnamed parties of attempting to «symbolically dismantle» the legal profession, calling the legislative offensive an existential threat. «It is our moral duty to resist this attack on our independence and uphold the integrity of our profession,» he asserted.
Me Mounir Belghiti, a member of the Rabat Bar Council, framed the dispute as a crisis of trust. The protest, he explained, serves as a final appeal to legislators to reconsider the bill. «Any future law must serve the nation’s interests, not personal grudges,» he stated. He warned that compromising on legal principles would erode foundational democratic pillars, urging lawmakers to prioritize the public good over divisive measures.
The legislative debate is expected to resume this week in the Chambre des conseillers. Should amendments be introduced, the revised text would then move to the Justice Commission of the Chambre des représentants for further review.
Meanwhile, Morocco’s courts are grappling with severe disruptions caused by the strike. Legal proceedings nationwide have stalled, leaving detainees in preventive custody in limbo. Many hearings, including those for individuals awaiting trial, have been postponed for nearly a month, leaving families and defendants in a state of uncertainty.
The Association des barreaux du Maroc (ABAM), the national federation of Moroccan bar associations, continues to lead the mobilization, uniting lawyers across the country in opposition to the bill.
