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Moroccan Society Under King Muhammad VI by Michael M

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Moroccan Society Under King Muhammad VI by Michael M A Difficult Inheritance: Moroccan Society under King Muhammad VI By Michael M. Laskier* This article addresses King Hasan II's legacy and the central problems facing his son and successor, Muhammad VI. These problems include the need for reform in human rights and democracy, the Islamist challenge, the role of women, and the Berber awakening. While Morocco has begun making key reforms over the past decade to better deal with these issues, in practice, even many of these reforms have been entirely stalled or only been partially implemented. On July 23, 1999, Hasan II died after DEMOCRATIZATION, HUMAN thirty-eight years as King of Morocco. In RIGHTS, AND FIGHTING the final years under his tenure, the CORRUPTION country underwent some reforms, and the Despite the proliferation of political accession of his son, Muhammad VI, parties that predate national added momentum to this process. independence, and since 1988, the Morocco, however, faces key challenges. founding of non-governmental (NGO) The population is expanding, from 10 human rights organizations, trends million in 1956 to 31 million in 2003, at toward genuine democracy in Morocco an annual growth rate of 2.1 percent--this, were of negligible importance before the despite its high infant mortality rate of 57 late 1990s. Human rights violations on per thousand. As a result, the country the part of the monarchy and the suffers from water scarcity and governments subordinate to it abounded, unemployment has reached 20 percent, while corrupt bureaucratic practices went according to official figures. The real unchecked. True, the 1996 Constitution figure, however, may be much higher, provided for a parliament and an and this percentage is increasing by 7 independent judiciary. However, under percent annually. In addition, there are the leadership of King Hasan II, as well major problems with accessing education, as under the current leadership, much of particularly in rural areas.(1) the political power within the country This article highlights four challenges rests with the palace. confronting the kingdom: 1) King Muhammad VI continues to democratization, human rights, and the preside over the Council of Ministers (the fight against corruption; 2) Islamist governing cabinet), appoints key radicalism capitalizing on the malaise members of the government, and may, at affecting Moroccan society; 3) the status his discretion, terminate the tenure of any of women; 4) Berber cultural and minister. He is invested with the authority linguistic awakening. to dissolve the parliament, call for new elections, and rule by decree. Since 1996, the bicameral legislature consists of a Lower House, elected every five years Middle East Review of International Affairs, Vol. 7, No. 3 (September 2003) 1 Michael M. Laskier through universal suffrage and an upper October 2002 encouraged sweeping "Chamber of Counselors," whose reforms, including completely free members are elected by various regional, elections and the "closing of the books" local, and professional councils.(2) on Morocco's dark human rights past. In In March 1998, Hasan II named a November 1998, the government coalition government headed by announced measures to ensure wider opposition Socialist leader Abd al- human rights activism, including training Rahman Yussufi, composed largely of teachers and developing curricula to ministers drawn from the Union promote human rights in elementary Socialiste des Forces Populaires (USFP) schools.(5) and the nationalist Istiqlal party. This was Human rights and democratic reforms the first time since 1960 that the were inextricably linked when the matter monarchy entrusted authority to the of the forced disappearance of the opposition parties in forming a monarchy’s political opponents came up government. It came in the wake of the before and following Hasan II's death. November 1997 legislative elections as a Since 1998, the Yussufi government had confidence-building measure by King pledged to ensure that such policies Hasan toward increased democratization: would not reoccur and to disclose as a clear signal to these leading parties of much information as possible on past his intent for political unity and cases. Many of those who disappeared coexistence in order to grapple with the were members of the military implicated nation's chronically neglected domestic in attempts to overthrow the government problems. Some could argue that Hasan and monarchy in 1971-1972. Others considered reforms necessary to save the were inhabitants of the Western Sahara monarchy, especially once he would be occupied by Morocco in the 1970s, as gone and his inexperienced successor well as Moroccans who supported their would need to cope with the changes. In territorial claims. Most of those who line with this thinking, one might add that disappeared were held in secret prison the monarch preferred to involve the camps, notably the infamous Tazmamart opposition in this experience so that, in prison colony, while others were killed. case of failure, all sides would share the In the final two years of Hasan's blame.(3) tenure, the Yussufi government was A veteran Moroccan nationalist, Prime already allowed to free many detainees; Minister Yussufi served at one time as however, the most important gestures the editor of al-Tahrir, the daily came under Muhammad VI, who newspaper of the Union Nationale des facilitated the release of thousands of Forces Populaires (UNFP), the group prisoners between the end of 1999 and from which arose the USFP in 1975. He 2003. Simultaneously, leading exiled had been imprisoned in December 1959 political opponents or their families were for allegedly taking part in a plot against granted permission to return to Morocco, then Crown Prince Hasan. In the 1970s, such as the Marxist activist Abraham Yussufi was sentenced to death in Serfaty and the family of the late Mehdi absentia but received a royal pardon in Ben Barka, an opponent of King Hasan 1980. At King Hasan II’s urging, the killed by the Moroccan secret service in Yussufi government declared its Paris during the 1960s. At the same time, intentions to modernize the nation's hundreds of Moroccan families continued administrative and judicial structures, and to be deprived of information about to liberalize the economic and political missing relatives by the regime.(6) systems.(4) Violations of democratic principles, Unlike in previous governments, the especially freedom of expression and Yussufi cabinet of March 1998 to press, began under King Muhammad V 2 Middle East Review of International Affairs, Vol. 7, No. 3 (September 2003) A Difficult Inheritance: Moroccan Society under King Muhammad VI between 1956 and 1961, and extended damage Morocco’s prospects for foreign into the era of Hasan II and Muhammad trade and investment.(9) VI. In theory at least, the 1996 Within months of Le Journal re- Constitution provides for freedom of opening (under the name Le Journal expression. Further, in the past two Hebdomadaire), its troubles reemerged decades the regime has tolerated the when two of its officials were sentenced publication and dissemination of a vast to short prison terms and heavy fines for array of newspapers and journals in defamation by then Foreign Minister French and Arabic belonging to both Muhammad Benaissa. The minister cited political parties and politically articles accusing him of corruption and independent organizations. Nonetheless, squandering public funds in real estate the Palace and the government restrict transactions while serving as Morocco's press freedom in certain areas. A 1958 ambassador to the United States. On decree, still in effect, authorizes the November 21, 2001, Ali Mrabet, editor of government to register and license Demain, received a four-month jail domestic newspapers and journals. The sentence and a fine for "disseminating authorities can thus use licensing to false information likely to disturb the prohibit the publication of data that they public peace."(10) claim crosses the threshold of tolerable The growing chorus of protests dissent.(7) pertaining to violations of democratic A good example of this can be found principles and corruption included in the sanctions adopted against international and local human rights newspapers that delved into sensitive groups. In the late 1980s and the 1990s, dossiers about past political opponents of NGO’s had urged Hasan II to enhance the Palace. This proved to be very costly liberties and lay the groundwork for a to three popular publications: the French- modern civil society. For instance, they language Le Journal, its Arabic sister pointed out that the parliamentary publication al-Sahifa, and Demain. In elections of November 1997 were not December 2000, Yussufi banned the three completely honest. They failed, however, weeklies for publishing and commenting to muster sufficient support to call for on a letter dating from the early 1970s new elections.(11) which implicated Moroccan socialist Despite the existence of many politicians, including Yussufi himself, in human rights groups, the authorities only an abortive 1972 coup against King recognized three multi-issue Hasan II. The restrictions were enforced organizations: the Organisation despite Muhammad VI's pledge to Marocaine des Droits de l'Homme eliminate all forms of press censorship. (OMDH), the League Marocaine de Justifying the ban, Minister of Culture Défense des Droits de l'Homme and Communication Muhammad Achaari (LMDH), and the Comité de la Défense argued that the newspapers had
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