Around 5,000 Moroccan lawyers in Rabat on Saturday protested a series of judicial reforms proposed by the government, which they say would significantly diminish the role of defense lawyers and harm the integrity of the justice system.

The lawyers argue that the proposed reforms to Morocco’s Civil Procedure Code and Criminal Procedure Code violate key legal principles by limiting a lawyer’s involvement in critical stages of legal proceedings. One of the most contentious points is the introduction of procedural changes that reduce the role of defence attorneys in civil and criminal cases. These changes are seen as a direct threat to the rights of defendants, as they limit access to adequate legal representation and, by extension, fair trials.

The President of the Bar Association, Elhoussain Iziani, criticized the controversial provisions of the reforms of the Code of Civil Procedure, the Code of Criminal Procedure and the Penal Code, citing a section that permits the prosecution to “retry a case that has been judged”. There are concerns that this will undermine the rule of law by making judicial decisions subject to manipulation through retrials. Additional problematic provisions that Iziani highlighted include the creation of a mandate that would replace lawyers, the elimination of the Court of Cassation appeal process for cases worth less than 80,000 dirhams and a ban on filing an appeal for cases worth less than 40,000 dirhams.

According to French outlet Belpresse, the possibility of a strike cannot be ruled out in order to exert pressure on the government. Some attorneys are even discussing the notion of royal arbitration behind closed doors. Iziani emphasised that Morocco’s profession is currently experiencing an unprecedented crisis and urged the government to adequately oversee the laws.