Morocco’s Justice Minister Abdellatif Ouahbi has confirmed intention to support the United Nations resolution on the moratorium on the death penalty .
He made the announcement during a public parliamentary session, in response to a question posed by the opposition and majority groups regarding the place of the death penalty in the Moroccan Penal Code and its relevance in the national penal policy.
The Minister stressed that this decision reflects Morocco ‘s commitment to strengthening the protection of the right to life , in accordance with Article 20 of the Moroccan Constitution , which states that “the right to life is the first of the rights of every human being. The law protects this right.”
He also recalled that this statement constitutes a historic change in Morocco ‘s position , which had previously abstained from voting on previous resolutions concerning the moratorium.
He added that this upcoming vote demonstrates the Kingdom’s desire to promote a policy supporting human rights and to consolidate its place as an advanced country in terms of human justice , while respecting national specificities and societal debate.
Abdellatif Ouahbi also stressed that Morocco has applied a de facto moratorium on executions since 1993, illustrating its constant commitment to protecting the right to life.
Support for the upcoming resolution is part of strengthening this orientation.
This change marks an important step in Morocco’s journey towards more humane justice and adherence to the universal values of human rights, while reaffirming its active role on the international scene.
