Moroccan rights organizations launch campaign to abolish capital punishment

A group of Moroccan human rights organizations launched Thursday a nationwide campaign to abolish capital punishment in Morocco that is among 21 African countries where death penalty is still in effect.

The campaign aims at encouraging the State to officially announce the freezing of death penalty implementation, to approve the facultative protocol related to capital punishment abrogation and to prepare a draft law on the cancellation of death penalty in the Moroccan penal code, the "together against death penalty" committee, grouping several Moroccan and foreign organizations, announced Thursday at a press conference.

Even though several people have been condemned to death penalty in Morocco, the sentence hasn't been carried out since 1993. In the latest years, dozens of people were sentenced to capital punishment, particularly in relation with the terrorist attacks that hit the country in May 2003 (killing 45 people).

Several NGOs are teaming up in this lobbying efforts, including the Moroccan human rights advocacy associations, AMDH and AMDH, the Moroccan Prison Observatory (OMP), Penal Reform International, International Federation of Human Rights League, Amnesty International Morocco, and Together Against the Death Penalty (End to Capital Punishment Movement (ECPM).

According to the committee, the campaign is also meant to guarantee mobilization so as to establish partnerships with the media to publish studies and opinion polls on this issue, and to improve the situation of persons who are condemned to death penalty.

The Committee said a memo will be submitted to political parties, parliamentary groups and trade unions so that they take part in this campaign.

During the press conference, President of the World Coalition against Death Penalty, Michel Taube, said the celebration this year of the World Day Against the Death Penalty (October 10) will focus on the efforts of African countries and NGOs to abolish the capital punishment.

The abrogation of death penalty by the Moroccan government will be a new step toward enhancing democracy in the country, he said.

He recalled that 11 African countries have abolished capital punishment but it is still in force in 21 other countries. Some 20 other countries, he pointed out, have not implemented the capital punishment for over 10 years.

Created in Rome in May 2002, the World Coalition against Death Penalty gathers 38 organizations world-wide, NGOs, Bar associations, trade unions, local governments, all kinds of organizations that are committed to the struggle against the death penalty and want to coordinate their efforts of lobbying on an international level.