Morocco prepares to vote on abolishing death penalty

Morocco is set to vote on the abolition of the death penalty for the first time, Middle East Monitor reported.

Justice Minister Abdellatif Ouahbi announced on December 9 that the country intends to support a UN resolution advocating for a moratorium on the death penalty, which is set to be discussed at the UN General Assembly on December 15.

“This is a commitment to protecting the right to life, in line with the Moroccan Constitution,” Ouahbi stated during a parliamentary session, referencing Article 20 of the national constitution.

The proposed vote aims to implement a two-year moratorium on executions, with subsequent plans to amend the penal code for the permanent abolition of capital punishment.

In response to this development, the Moroccan Justice and Development Party (PJD) reiterated its stance during an extraordinary leadership meeting on Tuesday, followed by a statement released the following day.

While the party acknowledged Morocco's forthcoming support for the UN resolution, it maintained its position on retaining the death penalty for the most serious offenses.

“We have reaffirmed our principled stance on maintaining the death penalty for the gravest crimes, such as premeditated murder and violations of the right to life, in line with the sanctions prescribed by the Holy Qur’an,” the PJD declared.

The party further contended that the death penalty provides a “sense of justice” to the families of victims, acting as both a deterrent to crime and a means of alleviating societal unrest.

Morocco has refrained from executing anyone since 1993, despite sentencing individuals to death, particularly for serious offenses like murder and terrorism. Currently, there are 88 individuals on death row in the country, according to the New Arab.