Human Rights International

Morocco – the first human rights clubs in prisons

During Morocco’s “leaden years” under the rule of King Hassan II, human rights abuses were especially common in the penal system.Abuse and torture were rife. Although many human rights challenges remain, especially regarding freedomof the press, freedom of speech and freedom of assembly, Muhammad VI, successor to the throne since 1999, has set the country on a new course. In 2004, he set up the Arab world’s first Equity and Reconciliation Commission, which investigated his father’s human rights abuses and began a process of reconciliation.

Against this background, the FNF partner Centre des Droits des Gens (CDG) has helped improve human rights in the country’s prisons from 2000 onwards. After educating all wardens and most guards in basic human rights, the CDG and the Foundation had built up enough trust to gain access to all prisons in the country and to
work directly with the prisoners. This resulted in the first human rights clubs in the world run by prisoners. Wardens hope that this education will result in less violence between guards and prisoners, between prisoners themselves and between prisoners and their families. The main problems with prisoners in recent years have been extremism and radicalisation.

The Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom supports the CDG’s efforts to develop so-called “human rights clubs” for Moroccan prison inmates. “This club is a great idea,” says Adnane, 38. He has already done two years of his six-year sentence. “It will help us to better understand our rights and those of others – not only here, but later too, outside.” This unique concept in the Arab world not only promotes human rights, but also counters radicalisation and extremism.