Editing Morocco (section)

=== Human rights ===
{{See also|Human rights in Morocco|LGBT rights in Morocco}}
During the early 1960s to the late 1980s, under the leadership of [[Hassan II]], Morocco had one of the worst human rights records in both Africa and the world. Government repression of political dissent was widespread during Hassan II's leadership, until it dropped sharply in the mid-1990s. The decades during which abuses were committed are referred to as the [[Years of Lead (Morocco)|Years of Lead]] (''les années de plomb''), and included [[forced disappearance]]s, assassinations of government opponents and protesters, and secret internment camps such as [[Tazmamart]]. To examine abuses committed during the reign of [[Hassan II of Morocco|King Hassan II]] (1961–1999), the government under King Mohammed  set up an [[Equity and Reconciliation Commission]] (IER).<ref>[http://www.ictj.com/mena/morocco.asp ''ICTJ Activity in Morocco''] – [[International Center for Transitional Justice]] (ICTJ) {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928230433/http://www.ictj.com/mena/morocco.asp |date=28 September 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://hrw.org/reports/2005/morocco1105/6.htm#_Toc119468378|title=Morocco's Truth Commission: Honoring Past Victims during an Uncertain Present: V. Constraints on the ERC|website=hrw.org|access-date=3 June 2017|archive-date=31 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201031020038/https://www.hrw.org/reports/2005/morocco1105/6.htm#_Toc119468378|url-status=dead}}</ref>

According to a [[Human Rights Watch]] annual report in 2016, Moroccan authorities restricted the rights to peaceful expression, association and assembly through several laws. The authorities continue to prosecute both printed and online media which criticises the government or the [[Mohammed VI of Morocco|king]] (or the royal family).<ref>{{cite book|url=https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2016/country-chapters/morocco/western-sahara|title=Morocco and Western Sahara|chapter=Morocco and Western Sahara: Events of 2015|date=12 January 2016|access-date=3 June 2017|archive-date=29 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170529211942/https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2016/country-chapters/morocco/western-sahara|url-status=live}}</ref> There are also persistent allegations of violence against both [[Sahrawi people|Sahrawi]] pro-[[Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic|independence]] and pro-[[Polisario]] [[Independence Intifada (Western Sahara)|demonstrators]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.afrol.com/articles/18566|title=afrol News – Western Sahara activists released, re-arrested in riots|website=www.afrol.com|access-date=3 June 2017|archive-date=27 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170727232116/http://www.afrol.com/articles/18566|url-status=live}}</ref> in Western Sahara; a disputed territory which is occupied by and considered by Morocco as part of its [[Southern Provinces]]. Morocco has been accused of detaining Sahrawi pro-independence activists as prisoners of conscience.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.amnestyusa.org/news/document.do?id=ENGMDE290072006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060422023532/http://www.amnestyusa.org/news/document.do?id=ENGMDE290072006 |title=Morocco/Western Sahara: Sahrawi human rights defender on trial |website=Amnesty International |archive-date=22 April 2006}}</ref>

[[LGBT rights by country or territory|Homosexual acts]] as well as pre-marital sex are illegal in Morocco, and can be punishable by six months to three years of imprisonment.<ref>{{cite web |author=United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees |url=http://www.refworld.org/docid/469cd6af0.html |title=Refworld &#124; Morocco: The treatment of homosexuals, including protection offered by the state and the attitude of the population |publisher=UNHCR |date=5 March 2007 |access-date=3 June 2017 |archive-date=10 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010154533/http://www.refworld.org/docid/469cd6af0.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.loc.gov/law/help/criminal-laws-on-homosexuality/african-nations-laws.php |title=Laws on Homosexuality in African Nations |work=Library of Congress |date=2015 |access-date=3 June 2017 |archive-date=19 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170619211045/http://www.loc.gov/law/help/criminal-laws-on-homosexuality/african-nations-laws.php |url-status=live }}</ref> It is illegal to [[Proselytism|proselytise]] for any religion other than [[Islam in Morocco|Islam]] (article 220 of the Moroccan Penal Code), and that crime is punishable by a maximum of 15 years of imprisonment.<ref>{{cite book|title=Freedom of Religion, Apostasy and Islam|author1=Saeed, A.|author2=Saeed, H.|date=2004|publisher=Ashgate|isbn=9780754630838|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HzFZKWc9SCgC|page=19}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bladi.net/famille-francaise-proselytisme-marrakech,42177.html |title=Une famille française arrêtée pour prosélytisme à Marrakech |date=4 July 2015 |work=bladi.net |language=fr |access-date=3 June 2017 |archive-date=10 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010160613/https://www.bladi.net/famille-francaise-proselytisme-marrakech,42177.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Violence against women and sexual harassment have been criminalised. The penalty can be from one month to five years, with fines ranging from $200 to $1,000.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/09/morocco-violence-women-law-effect-180912061837132.html|title=Morocco criminalises violence against women and sexual harassment|website=Al Jazeera|access-date=14 September 2018|archive-date=13 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180913214246/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/09/morocco-violence-women-law-effect-180912061837132.html|url-status=live}}</ref> It is also a criminal offence in Morocco to undermine the monarchy; in August 2023, a Moroccan resident of Qatar was sentenced to five years' imprisonment for criticising the King's policy decisions on Facebook.<ref>{{cite news |title=Moroccan man jailed for five years for criticising king in Facebook posts |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/aug/03/moroccan-man-jailed-for-five-years-for-criticising-king-in-facebook-posts |website=Guardian |date=3 August 2023 |access-date=4 August 2023 |agency=Agence France-Presse }}</ref>