Doha – The Association for Moroccan Human Rights (AMDH) elected lawyer Souad Brahma as its new president on Sunday, June 15. She succeeded Aziz Rhali, who completed two consecutive terms at the helm of Morocco’s largest human rights organization.
The administrative committee confirmed Brahma’s election during its meeting following the organization’s 14th congress held in Bouznika from May 23-25.
Brahma, long known for her dedication to defending public freedoms, has distinguished herself in recent years through her participation in several high-profile cases. She has represented contractual teachers, young activist Yassine Chebli, and journalists, including Soulaimane Raissouni, among others.
As a longstanding member of the administrative committee, she embodies continuity in the fight for fundamental rights and the independence of civil society organizations in Morocco.
The administrative committee also approved the composition of the central bureau, which includes nine newly elected members. Ahmed Haij was named First Vice-President, with Farouk Mahdaoui, Sadeq Maelainine, and Omar Arbib serving as additional vice-presidents.
The new leadership includes 23 members, with 8 women (35%) and 7 young members (31%), according to the association.
With this selection, AMDH demonstrates its commitment to female leadership—as the association itself stressed—as Brahma becomes only the second woman to lead the association after Khadija Ryadi.
Ryadi takes on the role of Secretary General, with Ibrahim Hachane as her deputy. Azeddine Baallal will serve as Treasurer, supported by Ibrahim Mayssour as Deputy Treasurer.
Other elected members include Omayma El Ghefri, Soumiya Rekraki, Mustapha Abryoul, Abdelrahim Lemrabet, Omar Rachidi, Saad Abil, Naïma Wahli, Achraf Mimouni, Ghassan Bennouazi, Zineb Bouchnaoui, Abdelilah Tachfine, Najim Marmouch, Mariam Meskar, and Zohra Koubiâ.
This transition comes at a critical time for the organization. The new leadership faces intensifying socio-political headwinds, including increasing restrictions on freedoms, political pressure on critical NGOs, and repeated prosecutions against dissenting voices.
Brahma’s candidacy emerged as the frontrunner during the lead-up to the congress last month. The sister of former Annahj Addimocrati (Democratic Way) national secretary Mustapha Brahma, she built her reputation through her legal defense of journalists, activists, and prisoners of conscience in recent years.
Her profile combines sustained field engagement, thorough political and legal training, and an active role within the association’s internal structures. These qualities earned her support from several influential figures within AMDH.
The congress itself faced uncertainty after weeks of administrative delays. The Interior Ministry finally authorized the meeting at Bouznika’s Moulay Rachid Complex for Youth and Children after significant pressure from the organization.
Brahma takes the reins following a controversial period under Rhali’s leadership. In December 2024, Rhali sparked national outrage with statements challenging Morocco’s territorial integrity regarding Western Sahara.
During a podcast appearance, Rhali explicitly rejected Morocco’s autonomy initiative for the Sahara region and advocated for what he termed “self-determination,” aligning with positions traditionally associated with the Polisario Front and Algeria.
His statements came at a critical time when Morocco’s autonomy initiative had gained unprecedented international momentum, with about 120 countries backing it as the most credible solution to the artificial, fabricated regional dispute, prolonged by a separatist and outdated agenda.
The United Nations itself has largely moved away from the obsolete notion of self-determination in this context, recognizing the impracticality of a referendum and emphasizing the need for a realistic, mutually acceptable political solution.
Rhali’s controversial statements prompted immediate condemnation from numerous Moroccan civil society organizations. Algerian state media quickly amplified Rhali’s statements, presenting them as evidence of internal dissent within Morocco. Multiple Algerian outlets provided extensive coverage, including the official Algerian Press Service (APS).
