Assahafa.com
Morocco’s Minister of Justice Abdellatif Ouahbi has expressed concerns about the growing influence of social media, particularly Facebook, on the country’s judicial system.
Speaking during a session on the Justice Ministry’s budget at the House of Councillors’ Justice and Legislation Committee on Monday, Ouahbi described social media’s interference in court decisions as a serious threat to judicial independence.
Ouahbi noted that court rulings are based on legal frameworks and evidence, but public reactions on platforms like Facebook often generate widespread controversy. He spoke about the need for strict measures to counter this phenomenon.
The minister expressed his disapproval of individuals, including former judges turned lawyers, publicly criticizing court decisions. He labeled such actions as contempt for judicial authority, which could be subject to criminal accountability. Ouahbi called for decisive action against such behaviors, which he said undermines judicial credibility and poses a risk to the system.
Ouahbi also pointed to the use of artificial intelligence to create fake videos that misrepresent individuals. He revealed that he had personally been falsely quoted in a fabricated video and had to rely on his family and ministry officials to keep him informed about social media developments.
The minister shared that a leader of an international human rights organization informed him they no longer rely on social media platforms like Facebook and YouTube as sources for reports on Morocco. The decision, according to Ouahbi, stemmed from excessive misinformation and exaggeration online.
He also criticized untrustworthy individuals for hijacking the human rights narrative in Morocco, urging legitimate organizations to step up and reclaim their role. “It is unacceptable that someone recently released from prison for fraud speaks on behalf of human rights,” he remarked.
Ouahbi rejected the notion of ignoring social media criticism, stating: “We cannot allow chaos to continue. If necessary, we stop the caravan, discipline the dogs, and then resume our path.” He lamented the trend of labeling officials and parliamentarians as corrupt without evidence, reminding critics that the public prosecutor’s office actively investigates credible allegations of misconduct.
Last month, Moroccan journalist Hamid El Mahdaoui received a prison sentence of 18 months after a defamation case filed by Ouahbi. The minister accused El Mehdaoui of “disseminating and distributing false allegations and facts to harm the reputation of individuals as well as defamation and public insults.”
Source: Morocco word news
