Morocco settles 68 human rights abuse cases

A Moroccan independent commission, set up last August by King Mohammed VI, to extend compensations for victims of arbitrary detention and inheritors of missing people, announced on Monday that 68 cases have been settled.

The total amount of compensation extended was worth around $ 14 million (140 million Dirhams), Mohamed Mustapha Raissouni, a member of the commission told MAP.

Hailing the important stages covered in closing the issue of missing people and victims of abusive detention, the commission said the final settlement of the issue is a long process requiring much patience and perseverance.

Compensations, which ranged between $ 100,000 and $ 250,000 for each claimant were calculated on the basis of the age of the person, updated salary he/she used to get before detention, and family members under the plaintiff's responsibility.

The commission has also used the expertise of psychiatrists to assess moral damages incurred by victims and their families.

The commission has handled 5,819 complaints since it was incepted last August and up to last January 3, last deadline for receiving complaints.

The cases processed are related to political events, trade unions cases or events during the French protectorate both inside and outside Morocco and the applications for compensation deal with persons detained in secret sites and prisons or persons who were reported missing or who died, for their political opinion, in the wake of Morocco's independence in 1956.

Plaintiffs were requiring financial compensations, resumption of their job, retirement or social allowances, housing, death certificate or the corpse, job for children, the issuing of passport and the truth on the fate of some missing persons.

The commission comprises three judges, four CCDH members, a delegate of the interior ministry and a delegate of the justice ministry. It is chaired by a judge from the supreme court.