Death sentences in Morocco

Statement

on 9 May 2007

The World Coalition against the death penalty, the FIDH and the Moroccan Coalition against the Death Penalty are concerned with the continued pronunciation of death sentences by Moroccan courts.
The World Coalition against the death penalty (WCADP), the International Federation of Human Rights Leagues (FIDH) and the Moroccan Coalition Against the Death Penalty (CMPDM) have learnt with great concern of the death sentence pronounced against Mr Hajaje Aadouani on Tuesday 27 February by the Rabat Appeals Court. M. Aadouani was convicted of the assassination of a police officer within the building of the Rabat Magistrates Court on 12 February 2006.
The WCADP, the FIDH and the CMPDM are deeply concerned about this new sentence, which follows the sentence pronounced on 20 February 2007 by the first criminal chamber of the Rabat Appeals Court.
These new sentences go against the statement by the President of the Moroccan Consultative Human Rights Council (CCDH) at the Third World Congress against the Death Penalty, which opened the door to the prospect of an imminent abolition of the death penalty. We welcomed this statement, as well as the fact that the Minister of Justice has publicly expressed his personal conviction that the death penalty should be abolished in Morocco at the time when the Ministry of Justice is revising the Penal Code towards a possible abolition of the death penalty. The increasing public debate is another additional positive sign welcomed by the Coalition.
In view of this judicial decision, our organisations must once again express their opposition to the death penalty, in all circumstances and places, and stress that the death penalty is fundamentally contrary to the dignity of human beings as proclaimed by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
We deplore the continued passing of death sentences by Moroccan courts according to existing legislation, and call on the Moroccan authorities to abolish the death penalty as soon as possible , according to the statements made at international forums.