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Rabat – Amid increasing controversy surrounding Morocco’s latest bar exam results, the Spokesperson for the Moroccan government Mustapha Baitas on Thursday announced that Morocco’s Minister of Justice Abdellatif Ouahbi will address the situation in the upcoming hours.
Speaking in a press briefing following the Government’s weekly council, Baitas said: “I personally spoke with the Minister of Justice shortly before, and he assured me that he has a clear position on the matter, which he will explain in the next few hours.”
Moroccan media bombarded Baitas with questions concerning the bar exam allegations, echoing the thoughts of a growing number of Moroccans, who expressed favoritism and nepotism concerns over the results of the latest bar examination.
Lists of the candidates who passed the exam, which have been widely shared online, show individuals bearing the same family names, with some belonging to the families of affluent and famous lawyers — including Ouahbi.
Angered by the alleged favoritism, Moroccan social media users took to the internet to condemn and protest the results, with many urging authorities to open an investigation on the matter.
Adding insult to injury, Ouahbi on Monday responded to the allegations with contempt and dismissiveness. The minister’s attitude has sparked more outrage among Moroccan internet users, many of whom have accused him of dismissing their serious concerns.
Read also: Justice Ministry Official Reportedly Passes Bar Exam He Was Supposed to Oversee
Responding to questions about the authenticity of the bar exam results and the recent allegations, Ouahbi said on Monday: “This is not a crime for me to open an investigation. I trust the committee. Should I open an investigation just because someone sitting in a cafe asked me to?”
When asked if his son had also passed the bar exam, the justice minister said: “My son has two bachelor degrees from Montreal… His father is rich and paid for his education abroad.”
Ouahbi’s comment triggered a nationwide uproar, with many Moroccan netizens accusing the minister of deprecating the Moroccan educational system.
Ouahbi later responded to the wave of criticism with a backhanded apology, saying that he “apologizes” if his words “have been misinterpreted.”
Since then, many people, including those who have sat for the bar exam and did not pass, have been taking to the streets to protest the incident, including in front of the Moroccan parliament in Rabat.
