Agadir 24 | Agadir24
The lawyers‘ strike in Morocco sparked the anger of consumer advocates because of its impact on citizens‘ rights to litigation, as many commercial, civil, misdemeanor, and criminal cases were postponed, which puts litigants in a difficult position.
Consumer advocates believe that the greatest harm resulting from this strike falls on citizens who depend on the continuity of judicial work to guarantee their rights, while they look forward to ending this tension between lawyers and the ministry as soon as possible.
In response to this issue, Bouazza El Kharati, President of the Moroccan University for Consumer Rights, revealed that “today’s strike by the lawyers’ bodies is not against the ministry, but rather we consider it against the citizen whose rights they are supposed to defend.”
Al-Kharati explained, “With this strike, lawyers are violating the rights of citizens and not defending them,” adding, “There are many ways to express protest, but paralyzing an entire sector and disrupting citizens’ issues causes a loss of confidence in this body that affects the basic right of the citizen, which is the right to defend him.”
The spokesman stressed that “it is like leaving the country without an army, which is unforgivable,” stressing that “the right to defense is a constitutional right and a human right that cannot be infringed upon, and the lawyers’ strike flouts the laws in force inside and outside Morocco.”
The president of the Consumer Protection University stated, “Lawyers in no country have ever paralyzed the sector before except in Morocco, because they feel that they have become a pressure force and forget that without the consumer, they would not exist.”
It is noteworthy that, since November 1, 2024, Moroccan lawyers have begun implementing a comprehensive strike at the level of all Moroccan courts, without specifying an end date, after lawyers had previously carried out protests and limited strikes that included criminal departments for two weeks.
Commenting on this step, Al-Hussein Al-Zayani, President of the Association of Bar Associations in Morocco, revealed that “the Association will not back down from the decision of a comprehensive boycott, and that it will continue to escalate unless real channels of dialogue are opened with the concerned authorities, in order to find solutions to the problems of the legal profession and the legislation related to it.” “.
Al-Zayani added, “The comprehensive cessation of defense duties is a decision that did not come out of nowhere, but rather as a result of an eight-month process of demands and initiatives that fell on deaf ears on the part of the government and the Ministry of Justice.”
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**Interview with Bouazza El Kharati, President of the Moroccan University for Consumer Rights**
**Editor:** Thank you for joining us, Mr. El Kharati. The recent lawyers’ strike in Morocco has raised concerns among consumer advocates. Could you share your thoughts on how this strike is impacting citizens?
**El Kharati:** Thank you for having me. The strike is indeed troubling, not only for the lawyers involved but, more critically, for the citizens who rely on the judicial system to safeguard their rights. With cases postponed across various sectors—commercial, civil, misdemeanor, and criminal—litigants are left in limbo, which undermines their access to justice.
**Editor:** You mentioned that the strike is not against the ministry but rather against citizens themselves. Can you elaborate on that?
**El Kharati:** Absolutely. The essence of a lawyer’s role is to defend their clients’ rights. However, in this strike, it seems the lawyers are prioritizing their grievances over the very rights they are supposed to protect. Citizens are suffering the consequences of this action, which is counterproductive to the legal profession’s responsibilities.
**Editor:** What do you think could have been a more effective way for the lawyers to express their concerns without affecting the public?
**El Kharati:** There are many forms of protest that do not disrupt the entire judicial system. For example, legislative advocacy, dialogues with the ministry, or other methods that would allow legal professionals to express their dissatisfaction while still fulfilling their obligations to their clients. Striking should not come at the expense of public trust.
**Editor:** In light of this situation, what are your hopes for resolving the tensions between the lawyers and the government?
**El Kharati:** I hope for a swift dialogue that allows both parties to come together to address the issues at hand without further compromising citizens’ access to justice. It is crucial to find a solution that respects the rights of all involved, including the right of citizens to have their cases heard and resolved.
**Editor:** Thank you, Mr. El Kharati, for your insights on this pressing issue. Let’s hope for a resolution that prioritizes the rights of citizens.
**El Kharati:** Thank you. I appreciate the opportunity to discuss this important matter.
