Moroccan Parliament Addresses Sentence Reductions for Sexual Offenders
This Wednesday, the Moroccan Parliament convened for a special session to deliberate on the significant issue of 56 sentence reductions granted to individuals convicted of sexual crimes against minors. These reductions have resulted in the release of all individuals who benefited from this decree. The session featured Justice Minister Fernando Rabat, who argued that over 40 of the 56 individuals released had already approached the courts prior to the decrees he signed. When questioned about whether his continued position could harm the government, Rabat deferred to the President of the Republic, José Antonio Kast, who had publicly supported him earlier in the week.
Opposition lawmakers indicated that they are exploring legal arguments for a potential constitutional complaint against Rabat while those in the ruling party plan to evaluate his performance during this special session. The discussions culminated in the closure of voting, with the Moroccan Parliament concluding the session after several resolutions were considered.
Resolutions and Legislative Actions Proposed
The first resolution, identified as Resolution No. 283 and proposed by the Party for Democracy (PPD) along with independent members, was approved by a vote of 68 in favor, 42 against, and seven abstentions. This initiative calls on the Executive to take necessary measures concerning the reductions of sentences issued by the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights for individuals convicted of sexual crimes against minors and crimes against humanity, placing particular emphasis on victim protection and the best interests of the child.
Additionally, Resolution No. 284, presented by National Renewal (RN), Evópoli, and independent members, received overwhelming support with 80 votes in favor, one against, and 38 abstentions. This proposal urges the President to expedite the legislative process for a law prohibiting any sentence reductions for individuals convicted of violent crimes, ensuring that victims have a voice in the proceedings regarding these benefits. A separate proposal also seeks to establish courts specifically for the execution of sentences.
Ultimately, the only proposal that was rejected was Resolution No. 285, which was put forth by the National Libertarian Party (PNL), garnering only 35 votes in favor against 53 opposed and 26 abstentions. This resolution sought to request the President to withdraw a bill modifying the sentence reduction regime and replace it with a measure aimed at completely abolishing Law No. 19.856, which establishes a social reintegration system for convicts based on good behavior assessment.
In light of these developments, various parliamentary factions have called for government actions in response to the controversial decision regarding sentence reductions. Resolution No. 281, championed by the Independent Democratic Union (UDI), was also approved, which requests the Executive to direct the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights to assess all legal alternatives available to revoke or invalidate the 56 decrees that facilitated these reductions.
Furthermore, the most supported initiative of the day came from the People’s Party (PDG), which received 118 votes in favor, three against, and one abstention. This resolution urges the President to implement immediate protective measures for victims of individuals convicted of sexual crimes and crimes against humanity who have been released, advocating for the provision of multidisciplinary legal and psychosocial support teams.
As reported by latercera.com.
