Despite opposition from a significant number of human rights associations, opposition groups, and former ministers, who argue its unconstitutionality, draft law number 15.23, which seeks to establish a temporary committee to manage the press and publishing sector, received a majority approval in the parliament.
Nabila Mounib, Secretary General of the Unified Socialist Party, has expressed stark opposition, stressing that “the creation of the temporary press committee instead of the National Press Council to manage the affairs of the sector, will exacerbate the situation, and will lead to more silencing of free voices and squeezing them.”
She also argues that the creation of this committee contradicts Article 28 of the Constitution, which encourages an independent and democratically run press sector. Mounib has accused the Moroccan government of intervening to assert more dominance, “as if we are in a state of constant emergency,” and suppressing freedom of opinion and expression.
