HANAN HARITE

Morocco-The Association of Moroccan Women for Research and Development held a symposium in Rabat on June 14 with the motto, “The Inheritance System in Morocco... What are Moroccans' perspectives? How do Moroccans' feel towards the country's inheritance system?”

During the symposium, the results of the survey conducted by the Association of Moroccan Women for Research and Development in partnership with the Moroccan Organization for Human Rights, were announced. According to the survey, 44 percent of the 1,200 participants in the study rejected any amendment to the family code relating to the inheritance system, while 36 percent supported it, and 20 percent had no opinion. 86.6% of the participants said that they knew the inheritance system in Morocco; 90.4% of them live in the urban center, and 79.5% live in the rural area.

82% of the participants said they support equal inheritance rights, 89.7 percent said they justify their position because the rule has a religious reference.

During the symposium, many women activists made speeches.

“More than 16% of women lead their families and the breadwinners of their families. But they still do not have equal inheritance rights.” said Amina Bouayach, President of the National Human Rights Council (CNDH).

Calling for the amendment of Family code to guarantee Moroccan women’s equal inheritance rights, Malika Benradi, President of the Association of Moroccan Women for Research and Development, stressed in her speech that Moroccan women should have equal inheritance rights.

Fatima Tamni, PM of the Left Federation Alliance, also made a speech about the results of the survey and said that there is a need to liberate the Moroccan mind from stagnation, in order to raise public awareness for the public interest. 

Nabila Mounib, the General Secretary of the Unified Socialist Party (PSU), said that the increase in polygamy and child marriage is the evidence of backwardness in Moroccan culture and the patriarchal system creates barriers against gender equality.

Socialist Union of Popular Forces MP Malik Zekhnini also made a speech and said, “The demand for social justice is a cornerstone of our democratic approach.”

Three discriminatory rules against women

The inheritance system caused a huge debate in Morocco in 2015, when the National Council for Human Rights released a report with a suggestion for the change in the inheritance system to ensure gender equality. 

The study focused on three discriminatory rules toward women: a rule requiring a girl to receive half of her brother's share, a rule preventing inheritance based on differences in creed, and a rule of inheritance by prejudice that does not allow a single girl, without a brother, to receive all of their parents' inheritance.