Morocco-Overview

In light of the amendments made to the constitution in 2011, the scope of public freedoms has increased in Morocco. However, in practice, the environment for human rights defenders and journalists is more obstructed than it is for others in society. Civil society groups are subject to travel bans and the government has sometimes prevented and banned their meetings. The legal framework for free expression is undermined by a penal code which penalises certain forms of speech. The right to organise public demonstrations is restricted to legally registered associations only. Activism related to Western Sahara or the Sahrawi Arab Republic is particularly restricted.