NCJ Number
57590
Date Published
1977
Length
19 pages
Annotation
FOLLOWING A REVIEW OF THE EVENTS LEADING TO THE POLITICAL SITUATION IN MOROCCO AS OF 1977, THIS PAPER OUTLINES AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL'S CONCERNS ABOUT THE TREATMENT OF POLITICAL PRISONERS IN THE COUNTRY.
Abstract
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL IS PARTICULARLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE PROLONGED INCOMMUNICADO DETENTION BEFORE TRIAL IN MOROCCO, TORTURE AND DEATH IN DETENTION, INFRINGEMENT OF LEGAL PROCEDURE DURING TRIAL, USE OF STATE SECURITY LAWS TO SUPPRESS POLITICAL AND SOCIAL OPPOSITION, USE OF THE DEATH PENALTY FOR CERTAIN POLITICAL AND CRIMINAL OFFENCES, AND EXTREMELY BAD CONDITIONS IN DETENTION CENTERS. THE PROVISIONS OF THE NOVEMBER 1962 PENAL CODE RELATING TO OFFENSES AGAINST STATE SECURITY AND THE AUTHORITY OF THE CROWN HAVE BEEN EXPANDED. CASES DEEMED POLITICAL ARE NO LONGER TRIED IN A COURT OF FIRST INSTANCE, BUT ARE HEARD BY THE CRIMINAL APPEAL COURTS, COMPOSED OF FIVE MAGISTRATES, FROM WHICH THERE IS NO APPEAL. ON CERTAIN OCCASIONS, SPECIAL MILITARY TRIBUNALS HAVE BEEN CREATED TO TRY THOSE ACCUSED OF POLITICAL OFFENSES. THOSE POLITICAL PRISONERS ARRESTED BY THE SECURITY POLICE HAVE BEEN DETAINED FOR UP TO 3 YEARS WITHOUT TRIAL. OBJECTIVE TRIAL OBSERVERS HAVE NOTED THE COURTS' PREJUDICE THESE OFFENDERS, WHICH SOMETIMES LEADS TO A COURT'S VIOLATION OF THE RULES OF PENAL PROCEDURE. DETAINEES ARE OFTEN HELD IN SECRET DETENTION CENTERS AND NOT ALLOWED TO COMMUNICATE WITH THEIR FAMILIES OR LAWYERS, NOR GIVEN ANY OFFICIAL REASON FOR THEIR ARREST. CONSISTENT REPORTS INDICATE THAT TORTURE IS A ROUTINE SECURITY POLICE PRACTICE DURING THE INTERROGATION OF POLITICAL DETAINEES. THE MOROCCAN PENAL CODE OF NOVEMBER 1962 PRESCRIBES THE DEATH PENALTY FOR A NUMBER OF OFFENSES ASSOCIATED WITH ATTEMPTS TO UNDERMINE THE PRESENT REGIME, AND, SINCE 1958, DEATH SENTENCES HAVE BEEN PASSED IN MORE THAN 80 CASES OF PERSONS CHARGED WITH POLITICAL OFFENSES. AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL HAS CONSISTENTLY AND REPEATEDLY CAMPAIGNED FOR THE AMNESTY OF ALL POLITICAL PRISONERS IN MOROCCO, WHILE PROTECTING THE TREATMENT OF SUCH PERSONS UNDER THE MOROCCAN CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. A LIST OF AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL BRIEFING PAPERS IS PROVIDED. (RCB)