King Mohammed' speech on the occasion of the establishment of the Justice and Reconciliation Commission
Morocco, Politics, 1/8/2004

Morocco's King Mohammed VI inaugurated this Wednesday at the Royal Palace of Agadir, "the Equity and Reconciliation Commission," part of the sovereign's concern to settle once and for all the issue of past human rights abuses.

Here follows the full text of the king's speech delivered on the occasion:


"Praise be to God

Peace and blessings be upon the Prophet, His Kith and Kin

Ladies and Gentlemen,

As a further illustration of my determination to carry on with my effort to uphold human rights as a culture and as an attitude, I am setting up, today, the Justice and Reconciliation Commission, thus concluding the process of shelving a thorny issue once and for all. As soon as I acceded to the throne, I decided that this process, which was launched in the early nineties, should be consolidated.

Reflecting on the different international experiences in this particular field, one must acknowledge that Morocco, acting with wisdom and courage, has managed to come up with a model of its own.


I should like, in this respect, to hail the architects of these accomplishments, government authorities as well as social actors, and to remember, with humility and reverence, my august Father, His Majesty King Hassan II, God bless His soul, who was the driving force behind this process. I also wish to commend all those - public authorities, political parties, trade unions and NGOs - who have contributed to the achievement of this objective.

Similarly, I would like to pay tribute to the Independent Arbitration Commission for its commendable work with respect to the provision of compensation for the moral or material damage suffered. This breakthrough is recognized, both at home and abroad, as an outstanding achievement. It will provide a solid basis for the Justice and Reconciliation Commission to build on and complete the mission of its predecessor.

It is my firm determination to see to it that this issue is resolved once and for all, through further equitable, out-of-court settlements, as well as by healing past wounds and redressing the damage done. To this end, a bold, comprehensive approach, seeking justice, rehabilitation and reintegration, will be adopted to uncover the truth and draw lessons from the past. The aim is for Moroccans to be at peace with themselves and to be reconciled with their history, so that they may channel their energies towards building a modern, democratic society, which provides the best protection to avoid recurrence of past wrongs.

The work done by the previous Commission, and the final report you will be drawing up in an effort to establish the facts within a set time-frame, make us regard your commission as a truth and justice body. We are all aware that the truth uncovered is only relative, and that even historians, however impartial they may be, may not get at the whole truth, the more so absolute truth is known only to God. As the Almighty says: "He knoweth the traitor of the eyes, and that which the bosoms hide."

This Commission may count on my support in discharging its challenging tasks. Its chairman, Mr. Driss Benzekri, and all its members are known for their objectivity and high moral standards, their genuine commitment to human rights and their great skills in the Commission's extensive fields of competence. Seeking broad, diversified representation, I have made sure that half the Commission's membership come from the Human Rights Advisory Council, and the other half from different backgrounds. Nevertheless, all of them are dedicated to a common goal, namely to uphold human rights.

I should like to commend the members of this Commission and express my deep appreciation to them. I was truly delighted that they all readily and enthusiastically joined me in this initiative, willing and determined to ensure the success of this noble mission.

I am confident that the Commission, with such a prominent membership, will, God willing, manage, within the prescribed time, to rehabilitate the victims, bring comfort to their families, and achieve such reconciliation as will allay the wrath of the past, make the best use of past achievements and consolidate them, with a view to reaching a just, equitable, humane, civilised and final settlement of past abuses. I am sure that, in laying down its rules of procedure and in carrying out its mission, the Commission will consistently seek guidance from the decision whereby it was established, from international conventions on human rights, and from Islamic ideals, which advocate tolerance and forgiveness.

This is the path to follow if we are to consolidate the spirit of good citizenship, and make democracy, patriotism and dissemination of the culture of human rights and obligations the most reliable shield to protect our society from any propensity for extremism or terrorism. We are determined to fight such tendencies, to resolutely preserve security and stability, under the rule of law, and to channel all energies in order to make all Moroccans attuned to the aspirations of their nation and fully prepared to meet both domestic and external challenges.

This achievement is the culmination of an exemplary and unique process, in which we were all involved. It was conducted with confidence, audacity and circumspection. Our people, who are dedicated to democracy, neither turn their backs on their past, nor remain prisoners of its shortcomings. Instead, they derive strength and dynamism from it to build a modern, democratic society, wherein all citizens may exercise their rights and carry out their duties freely and responsibly."

Here is the list of 33 Persons Pardoned by King Mohammed VI

- Hakimi Belkacem, sentenced to death on May 11, 1985 on breach of national security charges. The penalty was commuted to life imprisonment in 1994.

- Oukil Mustapha, sentenced to death on July 19, 1985 on breach of national security charges. The penalty was commuted to a life term in 1994.

- Saad Ahmed, sentenced to death on December 18, 1975 on intentional manslaughter charges. The penalty was commuted to life imprisonment in 1994.

- Khazzar Mustapha, sentenced to death on December 18, 1975 on intentional manslaughter charges. The penalty was commuted to a life term in 1994.

- Ighiri Hassan, sentenced to 20 years in prison on May 17, 1994, by a military court, for violating legislation on weapons and ammunition.

- Cheblal Omar, sentenced to 15 years in prison on May 17, 1994, by a military court, for violating legislation on weapons and ammunition.

- Kassou Ou Ali, sentenced to 10 years in prison on May 18, 1994, by a military court, for violating legislation on weapons and ammunition.

- El Moudden El Houssine, sentenced to 12 years in prison on May 18, 1994, by a military court, for violating legislation on weapons and ammunition.

- Najem Abdelwahed, sentenced to 18 years in prison on May 18, 1994, by a military court, for violating legislation on weapons and ammunition.

- Hammaz Said, sentenced to 15 years in prison on May 17, 1994, by a military court, for violating legislation on weapons and ammunition.

- Mohammed Boussof, sentenced to life imprisonment on June 25, 1998, by a military court, for attempts to undermine national security.

- Mohammed Rachid Chrii, sentenced to 18 months in jail on April 21, 2003, by a military court, for verbal assault on civil servants on duty, and involvement in drug trafficking.

- El Ouardi Boujemaa, sentenced to 5 years in prison on October 24, 2002, on breach of national security charges.

- Ali Salem Tamek, sentenced to 2 years in jail on October 24, 2002, on breach of national security charges.

- Ali Lamrabet, sentenced to 3 years in prison on July 16, 2003, for undermining sacred institutions through the press, in addition to 4 months in jail, for dissemination of false reports.

- Mohammed El Hard, sentenced to 3 years in jail on August 4, 2003, for praising acts which are tantamount to terror crimes.

- Mustapha Alaoui Mdaghri, condemned to a suspended sentence of 1 year in prison for concealing a document which might facilitate investigation into a crime or offence.

- Mustapha Kechnini, sentenced to 2 years in jail on November 3, 2003, for disrespectful behaviour towards the King, incitement, through printed material, to committing or taking part in acts which might undermine national security; in addition to 1 year in jail for direct incitement to committing an act considered as a crime or offence which undermines national security, and for disseminating false reports. He is not currently in custody.

- Abdelaziz Jellouli, sentenced to 18 years in prison on November 3, 2003, for disrespectful behaviour towards the King, and incitement, through printed material, to committing or taking part in acts which might undermine national security. He is not currently in custody.

- Abdelmajid Ben Tahar, sentenced to 1 year in prison on November 3, 2003, for incitement, through printed material, to committing an act considered as a crime or offence and for publishing false information. He is not currently in custody.

- El Moussaoui Adkhil, sentenced to 1 year in prison on 25 July, 2003, for forming a criminal gang, damaging public property and verbally assaulting a civil servant.

- Bazid Salek, sentenced to 10 years in prison on March 12, 2003 for forming a criminal gang, damaging public property and committing arson.

- Souidi Timeglit, sentenced to 3 years in jail on November 19, 2002, for undermining state security.

- Al Moussamih Baba, sentenced to 10 years in prison on March 12, 2003, for forming a criminal gang, damaging public property and committing arson.

- Saya Zine, sentenced to 1 year in jail on May 21, 2003 for forming a criminal gang, damaging private property and verbally assaulting a civil servant.

- Sellami Mohammed Mouloud, sentenced to 4 years in prison on February 18, 2003 for forming a criminal gang, damaging public property and committing arson.

- Lafkir Abdeslam, sentenced to 5 years in prison on April 10, 2002 for forming a criminal gang, damaging public property and committing arson.

- Boutabaa Salek, sentenced to 5 years in prison on June 24, 2002 for forming a criminal gang, damaging state property and committing arson.

- Ahmed Moussaoui, sentenced to 5 years in prison on March 12, 2003 for forming a criminal gang, committing arson and damaging state property.

- Bourhil Mohammed Lamine, sentenced to 10 years in prison on March 12, 2003, for forming a criminal gang, committing arson and damaging state property.

- Ahmed Sbaa, sentenced to 10 years in prison on March 12, 2003, for forming a criminal gang, damaging public property and committing arson.

Previous Stories:
  No regression in human rights in Morocco, says party leader   (1/1/2004)
  New reconciliation commission's mission is to establish truth in past human rights violations   (11/21/2003)
  Past human rights breaches to be handled humanely, vows head of HR body   (11/20/2003)
  Justice and Reconciliation Commission will help definitively close human rights violation cases   (11/14/2003)

Please add a link on your webiste pointing to ArabicNews.com and bookmark ArabicNews.com & subscribe to our daily email news bulletin.

Search