Morocco: Penalties for refusing to do military service in Morocco; whether objectors are prosecuted; perception of military service objectors by authorities
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 July 1999 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | MAR32403.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Morocco: Penalties for refusing to do military service in Morocco; whether objectors are prosecuted; perception of military service objectors by authorities, 1 July 1999, MAR32403.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ace57.html [accessed 20 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Recent information on the penalties for refusing to do military service in Morocco, on whether objectors are prosecuted, and on the perception of military service objectors by authorities could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
However, a MAP news agency 1 February 1999 report states that "Morocco has set the minimum age for military service at 20 and reduced the military service duration from 18 months to 12."
Furthermore, the September 1998 War Resisters International (WRI) survey entitled Refusing to Bear Arms: A World Survey of Conscription and Conscientious Objection to Military Service states that, in accordance to the 1958 Moroccan Code of Military Justice, "failure to perform military service is punishable by a month's to a year's imprisonment in peacetime; two to ten years' in wartime." The report also states that "as the armed forces are able to recruit enough 'volunteer' conscripts, it does not seem that draft evaders are being searched for."
The WRI report also mentions that:
When a Moroccan applies for a passport, his military situation is checked. Those who have not performed military service will have difficulty obtaining a passport. Likewise, if they apply for a job in government departments, they are only admitted after the Ministry of Internal affairs has given a statement of exemption from military service.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
MAP news agency. 1 February 1999. "Government reduces Duration of National Service." (NEXIS)
War Resister's International (WRI). September 1998. Refusing to Bear Arms: A World Survey of Conscription and Conscientious Objection to Military Service. Edited by Horeman, Bart and Marc Stolwijk. London: War Resister's International.
Additional Sources Consulted
Electronic Sources: IRB databases, Internet.
European Bureau for Conscientious objectors Website.
War Resister's International Website.
One oral source could not provide the requested information within the research deadlines.
