Rabat – Madiha Khayr, a lawmaker from Morocco’s Istiqlal Party, has reportedly submitted her resignation from the House of Representatives following a request from the party’s leadership, according to converging reports.
However, reports about whether she has formally resigned remain conflicting, as while some reports suggest that Khayr had submitted her resignation on October 21, others reported that the party asked her to step down from Parliament.
The Istiqlal Party has not publicly commented on the reported request or confirmed that Khayr has resigned.
The reports come days after King Mohammed VI approved her dismissal from her position as minister delegate in charge of vocational training and skills development.
Khayr’s removal came shortly after her appointment and followed an online controversy over judicial cases dating back to 2004. The cases involved allegations of fraud, forgery, and issuing bank checks without sufficient funds.
Old cases resurface
The cases involved transactions for the purchase of large quantities of gold. Several jewelers reportedly suffered financial losses after payments were made using checks issued in the name of a woman who was allegedly unaware that her name was being used.
The reports identified Khayr as a person investigated in connection with the transactions. They said she faced prosecution over the alleged offenses and risked prison time.
Media accounts also reported that Khayr presented a medical certificate from a psychiatric clinic during the proceedings. According to these accounts, the certificate was used in a way that reduced her criminal responsibility and helped her avoid imprisonment.
The reported resignation request followed the controversy surrounding Khayr’s appointment and the subsequent decision to remove her from the government.
Government spokesperson Samir Belfkih said the decision followed a shared political and institutional assessment among the parties making up the government majority.
Belfkih said the government had responded quickly to information about Khayr’s judicial and medical history that had circulated after her appointment. He said the decision reflected the government’s responsibility and its commitment to completing the constitutional process of forming the government and securing parliamentary approval.
