Q&A: 'Religious Institutions and Islamists Oppose Abolition'

CASABLANCA, Dec 1, 2008 (IPS) - King Mohamed VI of Morocco could easily abolish the death penalty by royal decree. But by keeping capital punishment on the statute books, the young King is yielding to official religious institutions and Islamists, says Brahim Ahensal.

Ahensal, a member of the Moroccan Human Rights Association, says abolition will depend on the degree of engagement from human rights NGOs and progressive political forces.

Ahensal speaks of the difficulties activists face in their daily battle against capital punishment.

IPS: Once again you marked the World Day against the Death Penalty by holding a sit-in. Is this the only way to express your opposition to the death penalty in Morocco?

Brahim Ahensal: Sit-ins do have a very positive impact as they allow us to communicate directly with the people. Of course, it's not the only possible form of action against the death penalty.

There are other more effective ways which we haven't used yet, such as human rights caravans criss-crossing the country and showing movies. Images are more likely to influence people than words. But still, we do also think that conferences can play a role in raising awareness about the death penalty as a barbaric and inhumane punishment.

IPS: What kind of activities are you engaged in at the present?

BA: We are in direct contact with citizens on a daily basis, explaining the importance of implementing global human rights and incorporating these into Moroccan laws.

Our task is to show the tragedies and atrocities that result from the death penalty, especially when the justice system is not independent and the rule of law is absent.

IPS: Are you facing any difficulties in these daily activities against the death penalty?

BA: Yes. The first difficulty is keeping up our engagement on a daily basis. Then we are hindered by a lack of money. The Moroccan media is of little help; the press, radio and TV talk about the death penalty only once a year, that's when the World Day is commemorated on October 10.

IPS: What kind of cultural and social resistance are you experiencing?

BA: Ancient traditions and illiteracy are the main factors. Official educational and media policies reinforce this rather than a culture of rational, critical questioning.

IPS: Is there enough freedom for you to express your views?

BA: Freedom of speech in Morocco is stifled. Expressing views contrary to the official ones is met with repression. Many human rights activists have faced detention and trials because of their independent views on human rights issues. Of course, any just cause requires sacrifices for progress to be made.

IPS: In the end, will it depend on the King whether Morocco abolishes the death penalty?

BA: According to the constitution, the monarchy in Morocco has a monopoly of all power, legislative, executive and judicial. This means that the King could easily issue a decree to abolish the death penalty, especially as all sentences are passed in his name.

I would like to say here that during the reign of King Hassan II [from 1961 to 1999] many opponents were sentenced to death and executed for political reasons though their cases were 'customised' so they could be brought to court under some penal provision.

The abolition of the death penalty in Morocco will depend on the degree of engagement from the human rights movement, as well as the democratic and progressive political forces. This is the only way to put pressure on the Moroccan state to ratify the Second Optional Protocol of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, promising not to carry out executions. This was also a recommendation of our Equity and Reconciliation Commission [2004 -2006].

IPS: What other punishments should replace the death penalty in Morocco?

BA: Let's agree first of all that the death penalty cannot protect society from crime that has economic, social, psychological and political causes. As long as these causes are present, the death penalty is powerless. We should focus on dealing with the causes of crime. We should provide education on human rights. We should make our prisons effective institutions for reform, training and social reintegration.

IPS: Do you think that the death penalty advocates in the Arab and Muslim world are misusing religion to retain the death penalty?

BA: Official religious institutions and Islamist groups are in the forefront of resistance to death penalty abolition. Though they differ formally, they come together in their opposition to human rights and resistance to abolition. Their extreme interpretation of religion justifies the retention of this barbaric punishment. (END)

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