Khalid Naciri, a well-known leader of the PPS, passed away on April 5, 2023, in a clinic in Rabat following a long illness. Born in Casablanca in 1946, he was a national figure in politics, constitutional law, and human rights activism. He was a lawyer at the Casablanca bar, distinguished himself in various political trials in Morocco, and was an editorialist for the daily Al Bayane. He was also a professor of constitutional law at the Faculty of Legal Sciences in Casablanca. As a staunch defender of Morocco’s interests, he represented the PPS in official meetings regarding electoral reform and was one of the founders and presidents of the Moroccan Organization for Human Rights. He was appointed as the Ambassador of the Kingdom to Jordan by HM King Mohammed VI in 2018, which he held until his last breath. A great patriot and a man of consensus within his party, he advocated change in continuity and the participation of the PPS in the Youssoufi government in 1998. Khalid Naciri was buried on April 6, 2023, at the Ach Chouhada cemetery in Rabat following the Al Asr prayer. He is survived by his two children, Othman and Hicham.
He was an inveterate patriot, a fine jurist and constitutionalist, a born communicator and an exemplary state clerk. As he was one of the pillars of his lifelong party, the PPS.
Khalid Naciri, prominent leader of the PPS, died on Wednesday evening, April 5, 2023. Born in Casablanca in 1946, in the Habbous district, Mr. Naciri passed away in a clinic in Rabat following a long illness. The Party of Progress and Socialism paid him a vibrant tribute, saluting the open mind and the attachment to the principles which the deceased had always shown. But also the high clerk of the State that he was, with great intellectual capacities which made him an important executive not only of the PPS but of the entire national political landscape, with a remarkable presence in the field of publishing ( books, studies…) and the press.
From the mid-1960s, Khalid Naciri was among the most prominent young activists of the Liberation and Socialism Party, which succeeded the Moroccan Communist Party before giving way in 1974 to the PPS. It is no coincidence that in 1975, Khalid Naciri was elected member of the party’s central committee before accessing the political bureau in 1995. Change in continuity Lawyer by training, with a perfect command of the language of Molière and its classics, Mr. Naciri was a lawyer at the Casablanca bar.
He distinguished himself in various political trials that Morocco had known in the second half of the 70s and in the 80s. As he distinguished himself by his writings in the daily Al Bayane. Editorialist but also official translator of party documents, Khalid Naciri was known for his rigor and his high sense of repartee. In parallel with his partisan and professional activities, he continued his higher education to become a professor of constitutional law at the Faculty of Legal Sciences in Casablanca.
Constitutionalist coupled with a fine politician, Me Naciri represented the PPS in all official meetings on subjects relating in particular to the reform of electoral laws. A human rights activist at heart, Khalid Naciri was one of the founders of the Moroccan Organization for Human Rights in 1988. He was its president in 1990 and 1991. He was also unanimously elected president of the Permanent Arab Commission of Human Rights, under the Arab League, from 2000 to 2006, three terms in office. A staunch defender of Morocco’s interests, Khalid Naciri was among those militants who never yielded to the sirens of foreigners.
On the contrary. A great patriot and a man of consensus within the party and of dialogue with other political parties. He defended the alternation and the participation of the PPS in the Youssoufi government in 1998. He advocated change in continuity. He was appointed Minister of Communication and spokesperson for the government led by Abbas El Fassi (2007/2012). He was also director of the higher institute of administration from 1996 to 2013. In August 2018, Mr. Naciri was appointed by HM King Mohammed VI as Ambassador of the Kingdom to Jordan. Position he held until his last breath. Father of two children, Othman and Hicham, Khalid Naciri was buried on Thursday April 6, 2023, following the Al Asr prayer at the Ach Chouhada cemetery in Rabat.
The death of Khalid Naciri is a great loss to the political and intellectual landscape of Morocco. As a prominent leader of the PPS, he dedicated his life to serving his country and advocating for human rights. His contributions as a constitutionalist, lawyer, journalist, and diplomat will be remembered for years to come. His legacy of integrity, patriotism, and commitment to principle will continue to inspire generations. Rest in peace, Khalid Naciri.