Decision by King Hassan to close human rights record praised

Secretary General of Amnesty International, Pierre Sane, praised Friday here the wise decision made lately by King Hassan II for closing once for all the human rights records in Morocco.

Interviewed by Moroccan News Agency during his New York visit, chief of the London-based International Human rights organization said "We highly appreciate and applaud the royal decision."

He also underlined the importance granted by King Hassan II and Moroccan government to promote human rights culture in the country and enhance the state of law and rights.

In his inaugural speech of the fall session of the Moroccan parliament, King Hassan II announced Morocco's "firm determination" to close definitively the human rights record in the six coming months.

"It is our determination to definitively close the human rights dossier in the six coming months," King Hassan II said, noting that he would give instructions for the implementation of some requests submitted to him by the Moroccan Human Rights Advisory Council (CCDH) for the release of some detainees.

Few days later, the CCDH published a list of 28 political detainees, amnestied by King Hassan II, and another list of 56 dead persons.

The Council said the 28 amnestied persons had been serving different sentences for various crimes of public law violations and, thus, the term political detainee cannot be applicable to their cases.

The Council, set up by the King in 1990, is a national institution in charge of protecting and promoting human rights and consolidating human rights culture in Morocco.

The council, which is independent from the legislative, executive and judiciary powers, issues consultative opinions that are submitted to the king.

The council, wherein all the trends of the civil society are represented, is chaired by the president of the supreme court and includes 5 ministers.