Moroccan Lawyers Protest Draft Bar Law Across Major Cities

Lawyers from the Moroccan Bar Association have staged coordinated protests in several cities, including Settat, Rabat and Oujda, demanding the withdrawal or revision of draft law 66.23 that seeks to regulate the legal profession. The protests began on July 14 and have continued with sit‑ins inside courts, a full boycott of judicial proceedings and the suspension of legal aid services. Participants denounce the draft as a threat to the profession’s independence and to the guarantees of a fair trial.

The lawyers’ coalition stresses the need for a participatory drafting process, insisting that any changes be made with direct input from the profession. They have organized press conferences, scientific seminars and plan to maintain the strike until the constitutional court rules on the draft’s compliance with the constitution. Protest signs read, “No justice without independence and immunity of the legal profession” and “The dignity of the bar is not negotiable.” The movement remains active as the constitutional review proceeds.