Rabat – Abdelilah Benkirane, the Secretary-General of the Justice and Development Party (PJD), has strongly criticized the majority of the proposed changes to Morocco’s family code, Moudawana, including the proposal to include women’s housework as a financial contribution to wealth during marriage.
In a series of videos posted by his party on Friday, Benkirane condemned the suggestion, claiming that it would turn family life into a space for financial disputes rather than cooperation and compassion.
Announced in December, the proposed changes to Morocco’s family code, or Moudawana, are still under discussion and need to be approved by the government and Parliament. Among the proposed amendments is the legal recognition of a wife’s domestic labor as a contribution to the wealth accumulated during marriage. This includes a new framework where a woman’s unpaid labor would be seen as a valuable financial asset.
Benkirane, however, rejected this idea. He argued that domestic work is priceless and should not be measured in financial terms. “This is an insult to women,” he said, saying that a woman’s work in the home cannot be compensated by money, and only God can reward it.
“This is unacceptable. A woman’s work in the home cannot be compensated financially; only God can reward her because her work never stops,” he said.
He also described the proposal as “an injustice,” saying it would deny inheritance rights to other heirs.
Benkirane criticized other elements of the proposed Moudawana reform, especially those concerning divorce procedures and guardianship. The new reform suggests removing the reconciliation step before an agreement-based divorce and simplifying the process, a move Benkirane says would undermine the importance of maintaining family unity. “It is unwise to make divorce easier,” he added, stressing that efforts should focus on reconciliation through the court or other means.
Read also: Moudawana Revision: New Custody Rights for Mothers, Polygamy Restrictions, and More
On the issue of child guardianship, the new reform would grant mothers legal guardianship if they have custody. However, Benkirane argued that guardianship should remain with the father, as he is the one who financially supports the child.
He proposed that the mother should only be given guardianship in specific circumstances, such as if the father is deemed unfit by a judge. He strongly opposed the idea of shared guardianship, arguing it would create conflicts and complications.
Benkirane also addressed the proposed reform related to polygamy, which would require a wife’s consent to be recorded in the marriage contract before signing. If she objects, polygamy would be prohibited for the husband except for certain cases.
Benkirane criticized the proposal to mandate that a wife be asked about her consent before the marriage contract is signed. He said that the current laws, which already require the wife’s consent, are sufficient, and that asking the bride-to-be about polygamy before signing the marriage contract is unnecessary and of “poor taste.”
Benkirane also took aim at Justice Minister Abdellatif Ouahbi and criticized him throughout his statement for the suggested reforms, adding that they need to be revisited and reconsidered. These changes are still in the early stages and will need parliamentary approval before they can become law.
