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This website is an interactive academic tool for CEA-UNH course: International Human Rights: Universal Principles in World Politics



Instructor: Dr. Scott Blair

CEA Paris Global Campus

Spring 2011

UNH Course Code: POL 350

Credits: 3















Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Morocco: Rejection of New Constitution Draft



(Picture above from CNN.com)

Just recently, the King released a draft constitution regarding the alleviation of some of the King's power as well as making the judiciary independent. Unfortunately, protesters did not agree with the draft due to an issue with making the judiciary independent and several peaceful protests were held on April 25th, the largest in Casablanca.

Protesters refused the draft due to the fact that the constitution was written by the king's own governmental people. Due to severe corruption in the Moroccan government there has been disputes on the regulation of government officials and this shows the issue when the new constitution is written by these corrupted government officials. Bribery is one of the largest issues in the government and "many believe that bribery in Morocco needs to be tackled before any reforms can actually take place." This is evident in the fact that "Morocco was recently ranked the 89th most corrupt country in the world by Transparency International." (CNN)

A powerful quote came from a student regarding the issue on the government as well as suggesting the fact that the constitution needs to come from the people:

"I came here today because we are Moroccans and we want a democratic state ... we are not in a democratic state and we want democracy, liberty and dignity," said engineering student Tehani, 20, who did not want to give her full name and is a member of Fevrier 20. "We want a new constitution but a constitution who comes from 'la masse populaire,' not from one person," she told CNN at the rally in Casablanca. "We want a committee which represents all the Moroccans, we want a committee of a constitution which we choose."

http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/africa/04/24/morocco.protests/index.html?iref=allsearch

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