Morocco Official Confirms Importance of Judiciary’s Independence

Men, accused in the killing of a Danish and Norwegian hikers in the Atlas mountains near Marrakech, are seen inside a car after leaving the courtroom in Sale, near Rabat, Morocco, July 18, 2019. REUTERS/Youssef Boudlal
Men, accused in the killing of a Danish and Norwegian hikers in the Atlas mountains near Marrakech, are seen inside a car after leaving the courtroom in Sale, near Rabat, Morocco, July 18, 2019. REUTERS/Youssef Boudlal
TT

Morocco Official Confirms Importance of Judiciary’s Independence

Men, accused in the killing of a Danish and Norwegian hikers in the Atlas mountains near Marrakech, are seen inside a car after leaving the courtroom in Sale, near Rabat, Morocco, July 18, 2019. REUTERS/Youssef Boudlal
Men, accused in the killing of a Danish and Norwegian hikers in the Atlas mountains near Marrakech, are seen inside a car after leaving the courtroom in Sale, near Rabat, Morocco, July 18, 2019. REUTERS/Youssef Boudlal

Morocco’s first president of the Court of Cassation, deputy chairman of the Supreme Council of the Judiciary (CSPJ) Mustapha Fares said that the independence of the judiciary has served as a pillar for guaranteeing rights, safeguarding freedoms, responding to grievances, fighting corruption and achieving judicial security.

He added that the independence has contributed to building a new Morocco.

In an official session held in Rabat, Fares reviewed the results of the first two years of public prosecution being independent of the country’s justice ministry.

In 2017, Morocco transferred the office of the public prosecution from the ministry, part of the executive branch, to the Court of Cassation, part of the judicial branch.

On the other hand, Fares called on judges across the Kingdom to “safeguard the sanctity of the courts and the prestige of those working in them, through upholding commitment to moral values and legal duties.”

“The CSPJ will support combating all forms of corruption, imbalances and improprieties,” he added.

Fares also called on the judiciary to ensure that courts are effective models of judicial administration and spaces that produce rapid and advanced justice, pointing out that “there is no room for leniency with brokers who trade the problems and concerns of citizens for personal gains.”



Kremlin Says It Wants Syria to Swiftly Restore Order after Opposition Attack

Fighters take over the district of Khan al-Assal following fierce fighting between Syrian government forces and opposition forces along with their Turkish-backed allies in the northern Syrian Aleppo province, on November 29, 2024. (Photo by Aaref WATAD / AFP)
Fighters take over the district of Khan al-Assal following fierce fighting between Syrian government forces and opposition forces along with their Turkish-backed allies in the northern Syrian Aleppo province, on November 29, 2024. (Photo by Aaref WATAD / AFP)
TT

Kremlin Says It Wants Syria to Swiftly Restore Order after Opposition Attack

Fighters take over the district of Khan al-Assal following fierce fighting between Syrian government forces and opposition forces along with their Turkish-backed allies in the northern Syrian Aleppo province, on November 29, 2024. (Photo by Aaref WATAD / AFP)
Fighters take over the district of Khan al-Assal following fierce fighting between Syrian government forces and opposition forces along with their Turkish-backed allies in the northern Syrian Aleppo province, on November 29, 2024. (Photo by Aaref WATAD / AFP)

The Kremlin said on Friday it wanted the Syrian government to restore constitutional order in the Aleppo region as soon as possible after an insurgent offensive there that captured territory for the first time in years.
Russia, a staunch ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, intervened militarily on Assad's side against insurgents in 2015 in its biggest foray in the Middle East since the Soviet Union's collapse, and maintains an airbase and naval facility in Syria.
Opposition led Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group launched an incursion on Wednesday into a dozen towns and villages in the northwestern province of Aleppo, which is controlled by Assad's forces.
It was the first such territorial advance since March 2020 when Russia and Türkiye, which supports the opposition, agreed to a ceasefire that led to the halting of military action in Syria's last major opposition stronghold in the northwest.
Russian and Syrian warplanes bombed an opposition-held area near the border with Türkiye on Thursday to try to push back the insurgents, Syrian army and opposition sources said.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow regarded the attack as a violation of Syria's sovereignty and wanted the authorities to act fast to regain control.
"As for the situation around Aleppo, it is an attack on Syrian sovereignty and we are in favor of the Syrian authorities bringing order to the area and restoring constitutional order as soon as possible," said Peskov.
Asked about unconfirmed Russian Telegram reports that Assad had flown into Moscow for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Peskov said he had "nothing to say" on the matter.