Moroccan lawyers have suspended all professional services indefinitely, effectively halting court proceedings and delaying hearings, in protest against a proposed law regulating the legal profession and the government’s refusal to engage in dialogue.
The Bar Associations’ Federation announced the decision to implement an “open-ended strike” after repeated attempts to engage with the government were ignored. Despite prior consultations with constitutional bodies and parliamentary parties across the political spectrum, the government has continued to advance the legislation without addressing the lawyers’ concerns.
In a statement, the Federation reaffirmed its opposition to the draft law, insisting on its withdrawal and the resumption of discussions through a genuinely participatory process that safeguards the profession’s core principles, including independence, immunity, self-regulation, and professional freedom.
Lawyers emphasized that their demands are not driven by narrow interests but aim to defend a legal profession that upholds citizens’ rights and maintains balance within the justice system.
Alongside the strike, the Federation announced that lawyers will continue to boycott the remote litigation platform and suspend the payment of associated court fees. A press conference is scheduled for Tuesday, February 3, and communications will be sent to the President of the Supreme Council of the Judiciary and judicial authorities to ensure that litigants’ rights are protected.
The Federation also called for mass participation in a national protest on Friday, February 6, in front of the Parliament, following a previous demonstration organized last Wednesday by the Young Lawyers’ Federation outside the Ministry of Justice.
