Human Rights Minister: Morocco Made Great Strides in Ending Violations

A general view of Rabat, Morocco. (AFP)
A general view of Rabat, Morocco. (AFP)
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Human Rights Minister: Morocco Made Great Strides in Ending Violations

A general view of Rabat, Morocco. (AFP)
A general view of Rabat, Morocco. (AFP)

Mustafa al-Rumaid, Moroccan acting minister of human rights, has stated that Morocco has made great strides in flagrant violations that have now become from the past. Yet there remain some cases that represent a challenge on the level of ensuring the efficiency of the national protection system.

The Moroccan minister added, during presenting a report on human rights' situation since adopting the constitution in 2011, that the general indicators reveal a development on the level of civil and political rights.

Rumaid stressed ensuring the practice of general freedoms namely the right to assemble and protest in which statistics show the growth of practicing these rights and freedoms in various regions of Morocco.

The minister stated that there are violations for some reasons attributed to the absence of human rights concept among those enforcing the law, as well as not abiding by the law from the side of citizens.

Rumaid stated that efforts have disclosed the fate of 801 victims of the forced disappearance and arbitrary detention or people who died in various social events.

On the level of economic, social, cultural and environmental rights, the report tackled the right of education, health and work noting that services enhanced in these sectors. However, the shortage remains high.

The report added that there has been a progress in reinforcing social protection of women through the outcomes of the Social Cohesion Fund and Family Takaful Funds.

As for the rights of the physically challenged, he pointed out that this category still needs more care and more comprehensive protection. Regarding prisoners, the report revealed that they witnessed a progress in the health, education and nutrition services.



Geagea Calls on Hezbollah to Work with Lebanese Army

 Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea. (Lebanese Forces)
Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea. (Lebanese Forces)
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Geagea Calls on Hezbollah to Work with Lebanese Army

 Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea. (Lebanese Forces)
Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea. (Lebanese Forces)

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea urged on Friday Hezbollah to engage with the Lebanese army and devise a plan to dismantle its military infrastructure south and north of the Litani river.

In a press conference Friday, Geagea criticized Hezbollah for opening a front with Israel and accused the Shiite group of committing a “major crime” against the Lebanese people.

“We could have done without the martyrdom of more than 4,000 people, the displacement of thousands and the destruction across the country,” he said. “Despite all these tragedies, Hezbollah continues to talk about a victory using a bizarre and disconnected logic that has no basis in reality.”

Geagea’s comments came two days after a US-brokered ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel went into effect. More than 3,900 people have been killed in Lebanon since Israel's conflict with Hezbollah escalated.

Geagea, whose Lebanese Forces Party holds the largest bloc in Lebanon’s 128-member parliament, also addressed Lebanon’s presidential deadlock. The country has been without a president for more than two years.

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri has scheduled a session for presidential elections in January. "Consultations with opposition factions and our allies will begin in the coming days to explore the possibility of agreeing on presidential candidates and bringing them to parliament,” Geagea said.