On Morocco’s Supposed Democratic Reforms

06/15/12

Mohamed Daadaoui
While Morocco continues to be hailed as a model for democratic reform and an exception to the Arab tempest of change, several indictors point to the fossilized and increasingly repressive behavior of the state. The Moroccan government has long reveled in a myopic and contradictory strategy of institutional and constitutional manipulation.

A recent article in the Washington Post exposes these flagrant contradictions, contrasting the regime’s promotion of the multi-million dollar music festival, “Mawazine,” starring the likes of Mariah Carey and Lenny Kravitz, with its unjust imprisonment of Moroccan rapper Mouad Belghouat, aka “El 7aqed” (the indignant).

On May 11, 2012, El 7aqed was sentenced to a year in jail on charges of contempt against public servants for his fiery anti-police song “Dogs of the State.”

Perhaps in a similar vain to the American rap group NWA in the 1990s, El 7aqed sought to express widely held indignation about police corruption in Morocco. Unlike the United States though, freedom of expression is severely limited in the kingdom and El 7aqed’s lyrics were deemed offensive to the state.

El 7aqed’s case is but one example of the state’s purposeful policy of promoting an environment of social activism and freedom of expression, buttressed by cosmetic constitutional reforms, while at the same time undermining those same rights through summary indictments and unfair sentences.  This is a calculated strategy meant to show the limits of freedom of the press and expression, and to define the contours of tolerated speech.

This strategy was particularly evident in the case of Moroccan journalist, Rachid Nini, who was arrested and sentenced on charges of “offense against national and citizens’ security.” The vagueness of the charge thinly masks the true nature of the indictment against Nini, who was rounded up for his critical stances against the government and, at times, vociferous comments about immorality and venality in Moroccan politics.

Morocco’s attempt to shed the relics of its past limitations on associational and informational freedom has long been beset by unease toward the press’ increasing criticism of the state. However, if the country is to achieve genuine democratic reform, freedom of the press must be one of the main elements of current debate in Morocco. Reforms can only start at the altar of the press, which is a watchdog for the travails of state-society negotiations.

The Moroccan government cannot claim reform and change on one hand, while continuing to brutalize society on the other. Democracy does not work without the rule of law and individual freedoms. Both precepts have been violated in the case of El 7aqed and Rachid Nini. The repression against theses individuals and their work has only refocused attention on the state’s shortcomings in managing an increasingly volatile social and political milieu rife with indignation and dissent.

Several people I have spoken to in Morocco maintain that the recent constitutional reforms, enacted in July 2011, are useless without the political will for implementation, especially for those articles dealing with individual and group liberties and the rule of law. The last six months of Islamist-led government have seen slight, but largely inconsequential changes, and, even then, these have been mostly in tone, rather than tenor. For instance, while the Islamist Minister of Justice, Mustapha ar-Ramid, pledged greater reforms and independence of the justice system, judicial progress has thus far been absent from politically motivated cases.

During a recent workshop I conducted for some 25 social activists in the Marrakech region, I was struck by the determination and enthusiasm evinced by young Moroccan activists. Committed in their desire for democratic reforms, they all expressed frustration at the state’s lack of political will to partner and promote socio-political projects. For the Moroccan government, social activism is only an additional venue to exert its vast control. By drowning civil society with thousands of associations and organizations, the state has attempted to limit the lobbying potential of activists, and has inserted key pro-state associations that feign independence while tacitly promoting regime interests.

Morocco is dominated by a carefully engineered political system, where every structure, institution, and organization plays a particular role in advancing “makhzen” power.[1] The regime has managed an increasingly fragmented political party scene and devised what political scientist Ellen Lust has termed a “divided structure of contestation” that allows selected political opponents to take part in the political system, while excluding others. These structures condition relations between the government and opposition groups, dictate the rules of the game within the formal political system, and help state agents infiltrate Moroccan political electoral contests and civil society organization to create new allies for the regime.

Civil society has been successful over the years in bringing about many policy changes in the areas of human rights, family law, and gender equality. The state has, however, been able to co-opt and set the boundaries for activism on such issues. Women’s rights, human rights and democratic reforms are but a few examples of the state’s attempt to redefine the main points of contention during electoral contests and within civil society. Furthermore, the regime has sought to fully integrate these discourses in the apparatus of the state. For instance, institutionalization of women rights discourse has occurred through the creation of the blue ribbon Cell for the Integration of Women in Development (CIFD), which was entrusted with the task of reforming the Moudawana (family code).

The slight Islamist electoral victory last November, the cosmetic constitutional changes of July 2011, and the semblance of a vibrant civil society serve to legitimize the Moroccan system, but undermine democratic progress in a country that stands as an exception to the vast popular changes sweeping the Middle East and North Africa region. Until there are meaningful and thorough reforms to the core structure of makhzenite power and its feudal control over the kingdom’s economic sectors, democratic progress will remain elusive in Morocco, and a mere illusion touted in international forums as a model for other Arab states.

 
Article Previously published at Miftah
Mohamed Daadaoui is Associate Professor of Political Science at Oklahoma City University. He is the author of “Moroccan Monarchy and the Islamist Challenge: Maintaining Makhzen Power” (Palgrave 2011)

Add comment

While Morocco News Board encourages discussion on all subjects, including sensitive ones, the comments posted are solely the views of those submitting them. MoroccoBoard.com does not necessarily endorse or agree with the ideas, views, or opinions voiced in these comments. This is a moderated forum. Comments deemed abusive, offensive, or those containing profanity may not be published. Please Read Site's Terms of Use

To post Video, images and links please use appropriate button

Name (required)

Title

Send

Cancel

Comments (6)  

 

-3 #1 How the moroccan media promot for democracy — said oudghiri 2012-06-21 04:09

I think the moroccan media or what is called la presse marocaine (www.aufaitmaroc.com/) has contributed in a way to polishing the untrue face of democray in morocco for the simple reason that they are subsidiarised by government to which they should obey though all criticism , For sentencing non governmental newspaper to imprisonment is the best proof .

Quote | Report

 

 

-3 #2 COMMENT_TITLE_R E On Morocco’s Supposed Democratic Reforms — Sahrane 2012-06-23 08:29

morocco insleep mode anyway,and we should call them (ittihad anniswi) no offense to the ladies .

Quote | Report

 

 

0 #3 COMMENT_TITLE_R E On Morocco’s Supposed Democratic Reforms — Morcelli 2012-06-23 12:03

The democracy that we know will never take place in Morocco or any other region in the Muslim world. The reason is not the king, the elites, or the authorities. It's the religion. until we have a separation of mosque and state, we would be fooling ourselves into thinking that Morocco might some day embrace democracy. Religion can never be compatible with any democracy. Religion is a set of disciplines that we have to abide by and some of these disciplines are not what some would call democratic. The inheritance law in Islam for instance, it states that Men is twice as good as a woman or better yet, a woman is only worth half a man. A man enjoy 4 women where us a woman is not allowed this luxury.
We should not measure our level of democracy based on a Moroccan "hip hop activist" or some nini who thinks he is the nest ben barka. We need to look at the big picture. We have 50 % of the population with no fault of its own that is illiterate, we have about that much which is poor and can hardly make ends meet and then we have the regime. This is a recipe for disaster in any country. I am starting to believe that Morocco has some sort of baraka that we are not let say Yemen. There are so many things that are wrong with Morocco, but I am sure that there some good things as well, and that is the reason that Moroccans are surviving against all odds.

Right now Moroccans are waiting to see what will come out of Libya, Egypt, and Tunisia. What they see right now is not what they want to see happening in Morocco. The Egyptian military is trying to hijack the revolution and Bashar is killing his own people by the 1000s.
If these countries succeed of overcoming their problems, I would be afraid of what's waiting to happen in Morocco. ou lah istar!

Quote | Report

 

 

0 #4 RE: On Morocco’s Supposed Democratic Reforms — hasanito 2012-07-02 12:48

...
@Morcelli

Indeed! Religion is a mental disease that gets in the way of our species to improve our lot.

But that's not to say institutions like the monarchy and its makhzen would turn democratic if secularism is established. No way!

Quote | Report

 

 

+1 #5 RE: On Morocco’s Supposed Democratic Reforms — ali64 2012-07-02 12:48

democracy
democracy has its own people; intellectual, responsible, full-fledged,pa tient, educated,...
not reckless ...
do you think we can build a democracy with people lhaqed and so.
we need people to seek a smooth change .
we vote for some people to be high ranked and we finish with saying here are the thieves . who put them there. we had a small chance to choose our representatives to replace the "bad ones" so we have to assume. if we make it or make part of it ; it is good . we are on right track. if not ; so we know what to do next time.
good like my beloved country.

Quote | Report

 

 

-4 #6 RE: On Morocco’s Supposed Democratic Reforms — mbt 2012-07-02 12:49

One is Enough
Morcelli having four women in Islam is not a luxury denied to women. Women don't want that luxury, it is bad enough for them having one if they can find one! But realistically ask any man who has four women, if he breathes in peace at home, it is bad enough having one woman especially round the monthly period when the hormone plays havoc with the female mind and senses, imagine four women!! No thank you, I will stick with one even when I can afford 18!

Quote | Report

 

Refresh comments list
RSS feed for comments to this post

JComments