Morocco's family code reform to mark a revolution
Morocco, Politics, 2/25/2003

The reform of the Mudawana (family code) will mark a "revolution with the participation of all," said Mohammed Boucetta, president of the consultative commission in charge of revising the code.

Speaking at a program aired Saturday by Morocco's first TV channel TVM, Boucetta said this revolution will be based on the "respect of the Book and the Sunnah (Quran and tradition of the Prophet)" and the need for Morocco to open up to modernity and international advances."

Ijtihad (jurisprudence) in this field aims to interpret texts of the Quran and Sunna in conformity with modernity.

The "revolution," meant to "secure women all their rights" will be marked by the consolidation of law enforcement mechanisms such as sections in charge of family justice and the fund of family mutual aid, whose creation was recently announced by King Mohammed VI, he added.

These courts will consolidate the already existing structures such as trade and administrative tribunals.

The Mudawana revolution will also deal with procedures and mechanisms of application of these texts in order to facilitate the mission of judges who will apply it.

The efforts made by the consultative commission in charge of the Mudawana reform, Boucetta said, also aims "to do women justice" where they are still wronged, knowing that Moroccan women made a lot of progress in all fields of active life.

The head of the consultative commission voiced regret that "this evolution is not accompanied by a religious education that would take into account society's Islamic values and principles, and the community's attachment to its values."

The projected modifications will deal with several questions, mainly divorce, polygamy, matrimonial law and spouses' property.