MOROCCO : Parliament approves law against torture

[sbs]

MOROCCO : Parliament approves law against torture

Justice Mohammed Bouzoubaa declared that “the new law against torture is part of a judicial arsenal which reinforces the respect of human rights' principles”, reported MAP news agency.

Justice Mohammed Bouzoubaa declared that “the new law against torture is part of a judicial arsenal which reinforces the respect of human rights' principles”, reported MAP news agency. .
In an interview published in “Maroc Hebdo International”, the minister affirmed that “torture was already sanctioned by the penal code. It is from now on an object of a special repressive and more severe system. No mercy towards torturers.”

Bouzoubaa evoked a series of guarantees provided by this new law, including the control of the judicial police's activities.

The new law also includes providing people under custody with medical expertise and lawyer's assistance.

“These guarantees aim at avoiding any mistreatment that a person under custody can be subjected to during the preliminary investigations,” said the Minister.

Bouzoubaa talked about the effect of corruption on the justice sector as well as on the social and economic ones. He stressed that “people feel that they can have their rights through corruption. That's why a network of swindlers was composed within the justice administration.”

“We will fight this phenomenon,” concluded the Minister.

[brim]

Morocco is a loyal U.S. ally in the war against terrorism (including, allegedly, torturing suspects at Washington's behest) and this despite the fact that torture was already sanctioned by the penal code.

They, the state, already had a law against torture but that never stopped it. Will another law stop it???