Moroccan lawyers stage protest in Rabat against draft law on the legal profession

On Monday, a large gathering of Moroccan lawyers assembled outside the parliament in Rabat, organized by the Association of Lawyers' Bodies. The demonstrators, calling the protest “Stand to protect national gains,” oppose draft law No. 66.23, which they say compromises the profession’s independence by transferring training authority to the Ministry of Justice, limiting council autonomy and subjecting lawyer deposits to audit‑court oversight.

Association president Hussein Al‑Ziani argued that the law undermines the historic role of the bar in safeguarding the right to defence and the balance of the justice system. He warned that the reform process has shifted from a consensual model to a unilateral legislative approach, eroding trust among legal actors. The Ministry of Justice maintains the draft is part of a broader justice‑system modernization.

The youth lawyers’ federation announced a three‑day warning strike to begin after the Rabat protest, reaffirming its support for the association’s demands and calling for the withdrawal of the draft law.