HIBAPRESS – Casablanca
Courts in the city of Casablanca have entered a phase of near-total paralysis in recent days, as a result of the strike launched by lawyers in response to the decision of the Association of Lawyers' Bodies in Morocco, in protest against a draft law they described as "detrimental" to the legal profession.
Abdelkader Samit, a lawyer at the Casablanca Bar, confirmed that the work stoppage included all professional activities within the courts, pointing out that this militant step aims to demand the withdrawal of draft law No. 2366 from the Legislation Committee in Parliament, due to its provisions which lawyers believe infringe upon the freedom and independence of the lawyer and diminish their immunity while performing their duties. The speaker clarified that this strike, despite its repercussions on the judicial schedule and the accumulation of files, comes in defense of the citizen's interest before the lawyer's interest, considering that any infringement on the independence of the defense directly affects the rights and freedoms of litigants. He stressed that the legal profession is "a message to defend rights and freedoms," and that restricting the lawyer's work or reducing their legal guarantees weakens the citizen's right to defense. Regarding the duration of the strike, the aforementioned lawyer explained that it was decided to suspend work for a week, pending the outcome of the association's deliberations after this period. Lawyers also announced escalating steps, including a federation stand on the 28th of this month, and another stand for the Association of Lawyers' Bodies on February 6th. In a message addressed to the public, Samit confirmed that the lawyers' move does not serve factional interests, but aims to protect the independence of the defense profession as a basic guarantee for the rights of the Moroccan citizen, calling for a positive interaction with their demands and the withdrawal of the controversial project.
