Istiqlal presents a bill against all forms of discrimination
The Istiqlalian Group for Unity and Equality in the House of Representatives introduced a bill aimed at prohibiting all forms of discrimination based on sex, race, color, religion or language, in particular with regard to concerns the rights of immigrants and foreigners residing in Morocco.
The text, according to the Istiqlalian Group, is in line with the spirit of the royal will calling for migrants arriving in Morocco to be treated humanely and to respect the requirements of international law. The bill, of which MoroccoLatestNews holds a copy, indicates in its first chapter a set of objectives to be achieved, including that “to promote and encourage respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, without discrimination based on race, sex, language or religion. In addition, it is said to consider all human beings equal before the law, in order to protect them from any discrimination or incitement to discrimination.
The second chapter includes the areas of prevention and exceptions to racial discrimination, by “preventing any discrimination or … exception, restriction or detail based on race, colour, descent or national or ethnic origin, which has the purpose or effect of suppressing or impairing the recognition, enjoyment or exercise, on an equal footing, of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social or cultural field or in any other area of public life.
The third chapter describes the mechanisms to create and encourage links and administrative, educational and media means to remove barriers between races, abolish anything that would reinforce racial division and criminalize racial discrimination. The chapter considers any dissemination of ideas based on racial superiority or racial hatred, any incitement to racial discrimination and any act of violence or incitement to such acts committed against any race or any group of color or other ethnic origin, as a crime punishable by law.
The text emphasizes this against employees of political organizations, as well as other organized propaganda activities that promote and incite racial discrimination. The bill also states that “ will be punished by imprisonment for a period ranging from one month to three years and a fine estimated between 1,000 and 50,000 dirhams, anyone who performs a discriminatory act or behavior and involving overt racism, discriminates against or excludes a or more persons because of their ethnic or national origin or their physical characteristics, with the aim of destroying, hindering or impairing the enjoyment and exercise of human rights rights enshrined in the constitution of the Kingdom or in international treaties or agreements that Morocco has ratified “.
Article 17 states that ” the penalty is doubled by one third for anyone who engages in racial discrimination or xenophobia if committed by a public official or official in the performance of his or her duties, or a security officer or any employee wearing a weapon in the line of duty “. This sentence is pronounced for the accomplishment of the act, or if it is accomplished by two or more persons or by any leader or official at the national or local level of political parties, trade unions or associations of civil society. Also, if it is committed against children, minors, women, the elderly, the disabled, the sick or people with special needs, as well as for the rest of the cases of crimes of racial discrimination as provided for in the Penal Code.
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