Morocco/Western Sahara
Authorities continue to crack down on street protests, harass journalists and obstruct human rights groups, both domestic and international. Dozens in Morocco and Western Sahara serve long prison terms after unfair trials for politically motivated offenses. Laws that provide criminal penalties for “harming” the monarchy, Islam, or “territorial integrity” (Morocco’s claim of sovereignty over Western Sahara) restrict freedom of expression and association. In Western Sahara, authorities systematically prevented gatherings supporting self-determination. Morocco granted temporary legal status to United Nations-recognized asylum-seekers and thousands of economic migrants, pending an overhaul of its laws governing asylum and foreigners on Moroccan soil. Recent laws on domestic workers and violence against women provided new rights and guarantees that remained to be tested in practice.

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Middle East/North AfricaMorocco has cracked down on pro-independence activists in Western Sahara after an incident at a border crossing on November 13, 2020.
December 18, 2020
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EducationWe write in advance of the 79th pre-session of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women and its review of the Kingdom of Morocco’s compliance with the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.
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Morocco: Espionage Case Against Outspoken Journalist
Omar Radi Abusively Jailed on Charges That Seem Flimsy, Political
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Morocco: Torture Suspicions Mar Mass Trial Verdicts
Provide Justice to Hirak Activists in Appeal Case
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Morocco: King Brushes Off Evidence of Police Abuse
Courts Jail Rif Protesters, Discount Evidence of Coerced Confessions
News
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Western Sahara: Morocco Cracks Down on Activists
US Recognition of Moroccan Sovereignty Doesn’t Change Territory’s Status
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Morocco High Court Reviewing Key Western Sahara Case
19 Have Been Imprisoned for 10 Years; Trial Fairness under Scrutiny
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Morocco: Espionage Case Against Outspoken Journalist
Omar Radi Abusively Jailed on Charges That Seem Flimsy, Political
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Muzzling Journalists: Morocco and Algeria Can Agree on That
Two Prosecutions Highlight Threats to Press Freedom
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‘Where is the Justice’ for Moroccan Transgender Women?
AfroQueer Podcast Highlights LGBT People’s Precarious Lives in Morocco
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Morocco: Online Attacks Over Same-Sex Relations
Criminalization Fuels Harassment; Protect LGBT People from Discrimination, Abuse
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