COURT REJECTS LAWSUIT FILED BY MOROCCAN CENTER FOR FREEDOMS AND RIGHTS AGAINST CNDH ON ACCREDITATION TO OBSERVE PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS
The Administrative Court of Rabat rejected on November 16, 2011 a lawsuit filed by the “Moroccan Center for Freedoms and Rights” against the Moroccan National Human Rights Council. The center claimed that it was wrongly denied accreditation to observe the parliamentary elections, scheduled for November 25, 2011.The Special Commission for the Accreditation of Election Observers didn’t grant accreditation to the center to observe the upcoming parliamentary elections. Its application did not meet the requirements of Law # 30.11, laying down the terms and conditions of independent and neutral observation elections.
The “Moroccan Center for Freedoms and Rights” failed to mention whether its proposed observers are or aren’t enrolled in the electoral rolls, as provided for in Article 5 of the abovementioned law. It mentioned no activity in the field of human rights and the promotion of citizenship values and democracy carried out in 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011, as provided for in article 2. Accreditation is granted, under this article, to civil society associations known for their serious work in the field of human rights and the promotion of citizenship values and democracy.
In addition, the center did not submit its “deposit receipt”, which is a basic document to prove that the association does legally exist. Article 2 of Law # 30.11 stipulates that legally created civil society groups are among the bodies that can carry out election observation.