Morocco Reserves Rights to Suspend Cooperation with HRW: Government Spokesperson

Rabat – Communication Minister and Spokesperson of the Government Mustapha Khalfi slammed Human Rights Watch (HRW) over its reports on Morocco, which he says “lack neutrality.”

In an article published on Friday in the Wall Street Journal, Mustapha Khalfi condemned the “complete lack of neutrality and objectivity” of HRW’s reports and the “undermining process” its teams have regularly conducted in Morocco for several years.

“As a sovereign State, Morocco shall not, under any circumstances, tolerate this situation in the absence of adequate clarification,” Khalfi stressed. He added,” The Moroccan authorities will remain entitled to suspend their cooperation with this NGO,” without “a proper clarification”.

He pointed out that, as it is the case with all Human Rights organizations, Morocco has spared no effort to have constructive relations with HRW. Meanwhile, the organization has adopted a policy to “tarnish the image of the Kingdom’s institutions and democratic achievements on the basis of pre-judgments,” the Minister said.

The Government’s Spokesperson, who believes that HRW investigators have surrounded themselves with “well known individuals who have personal agendas”, said the organization should stop all its activities in Morocco, until the Moroccan government’s upcoming meeting with HRW Executive Director Kenneth Roth.