Morocco: Jurists Call for the Release of Detainees to Prevent the Spread of “Corona Virus” in Prisons

The Moroccan Organization for Human Rights has called for the release of the detainees who are following up on charges that are not serious, in order to alleviate the overcrowding suffered by the Moroccan prisons, in order to reduce the spread of the new Corona virus.

The number of detainees held in Moroccan prisons amounts to 32.732, which represents 39.08 % of the total number of prisoners in Morocco, according to the annual report of the Moroccan Prison Observatory of 2019, whose number is approximately 84.000.

The Moroccan Organization for Human Rights considered that there is a need for the release of female detainees and detainees in reserve, whose misdemeanors are not of a serious nature, in the current circumstance, as Morocco initiated a series of strict precautionary measures to besiege the Corona epidemic.

The General Commission for Prison and Reintegration Administration had taken a number of measures to prevent the possibility of the Corona virus leaking to prison institutions, as it reduced family visits to only once every 15 days, and did not allow visits to foreigners with less than 15 days of stay in Morocco. It increased the level of vigilance and mobilization of all employees working in prison institutions, and the organization of awareness campaigns for the benefit of inmates, according to what was confirmed by the “Hespress” news site.

The Moroccan Organization for Human Rights has also called for the issuance of a comprehensive amnesty for the detainees, in the context of peaceful demonstrations and gatherings, during the past two years, who have raised economic and social demands.

The organization urged the Moroccan authorities to find solutions to the situation of immigrants and refugees who do not reside, and who are in Morocco “in this difficult situation”.

They also called for “the absolute prohibition to visit the nursing home and care for the elderly”.

The Moroccan Organization for Human Rights also called for intensifying price controls and countering monopoly, in order to preserve the food and health security of citizens “to avoid any security slides caused by greed of monopolists and crisis dealers”, as referred to by them.

 

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