Human Rights Watch Denounces Moroccan Justice System

Human Rights Watch denounced Morocco’s justice system, saying it does not conform to international human rights standards and norms of due process.

In a report issued on Friday, the New York-based rights group cited six cases which it said did not follow international standards, alleging that they involved coerced confessions and judges in these cases ignored defendants’ claims of torture, press tv reported.

“There is complicity between the judges and police,” said Eric Goldstein, the deputy director of Human Rights Watch’s Middle East and North Africa division.

He explained how the police allegedly coerced confessions from defendants and then presented them to court. “The judges are in a hurry to convict based on that without looking for other evidence. ”

The judicial system of Morocco has long been criticized by human rights groups.

In 2009, Mohammed VI, the current King of Morocco, promised to introduce reforms in the judicial system.

In November 2011, the Justice and Development Party won elections and pledged judicial reforms. However, no reforms have been introduced yet.

“The torture and ill-treatment of suspects in custody and specifically under interrogation remains a problem in Morocco, as affirmed by the UN special rapporteur on torture after his mission to Morocco September 2012,” the Human Rights Watch report said.