Political logic dominated over the principle of justice in the Affair of Abdessamad El idrissi

By African Bulletin on January 26, 2013

The affair of the aggression Abdessamad El idrissi, the Parliamentary Deputy from the current Islamist governing PJD party, is taking a very controversial directions.

The incident took place on Thursday, Dec. 27, in Rabat. As Mr. El idrissi was walking by, he noticed a violent intervention of the security forces against the protestors. As a parliamentary deputy, and an activist, Mr. El idrissi felt the obligation to intervene after witnessing a disproportional use of force against the protesters. To his own surprise, he was beaten himself, dragged, and humiliated, despite showing his credentials to the security officers.

From a legal standpoint, we can argue whether Mr. El Idrissi was within his rights to intervene in a public security concern. However, it is undeniable that the security agent committed a clear violation, by attacking a parliamentary deputy who was simply expressing an opinion.

The PJD MPs, along with several other members of parliament have decided to demand the president of the government to apologize to the legislative house. The request came as a reaction to what they described as “the insult,” following the beating of Abdessamad El Idrissi, a PJD MP, by security forces in front of the parliament.

Mr. El Idrissi held the Pasha of Rabat responsible for what happened and explained that though he showed documents which proved his identity as an MP, he was beaten and insulted in the presence of the Pasha.

The MPs of the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) are also reported to have called for a meeting, demanding the attendance of the minister of interior, the minister of justice and the general director of national security.

This incident created a discomfort and concerns within the PJD. In fact, during the National Council of Justice and Development Party, Mr. Othmani, current Minister of Foreign Affairs and a member of the PJD, denounced the aggression committed against a member of his party and revealed that Interior Minister, Mohand Laenser, has ordered an investigation.

But several questions remain without answers,

There are many questions still pending and without convincing answers:

• The most controversial of these questions, is about the level of balance preserved in the management of thi affairs, mainly in the chapter related to protection of rights. If members of the Parliament were able to unconditionally assist their colleague victory and using their status to put pressure and influence over public opinion and executive institutions. No one has inquired unfortunately to look for the rights of the accused security agent, for a hearing and then investigation either he is fully guilty or not, either he incident was accidental or intentional, and either the aggressed parliamentary has been generating provocation against security authorities during their duties before he was aggressed.

According to a Spanish human right activist:” this case is very obvious, because we human rights activists should report aggression, abuse of violence, and not to interfere, mainly if we expect our intrusion may increase tensions’

• According to some media reports; Abdesamad el Idrissi has first reacted aggressively towards security agents, and insulted them even before they act violently against him. According to same reports, El Idrissi who pretends trying to defend the right of young unemployed to protest, overlooks that the thousands of young unemployed rallied in Rabat protesting against the government’s recruitment policy. Mr. Benkiran, head of the government, denied direct recruitment of thousands of unemployed citizens that were promised jobs by the previous government, a decision that was heavily criticized by leaders within both the coalition and the opposition.

The dilemma is that Mr. Benkirane preferred to support his comrade in the party, against applying for law enforcement.

• It was worthy if Benkirane has encodes the messages addressed to him by the King of Morocco asking him to apply the law.

And conventionally, applying the law refers to justice, and to listen to all both parties and determine the degree of responsibility of each party. This should wisely including the principle of immunity, because immunity is nor open nor absolute, and could not be applied without reference to the judiciary instrument as the highest constitutional authority charged under the auspices of the rights of all citizens regardless of their positions and their duties.

Perhaps the least has surprised many observers and observers by giving indications that he may apology to the aggressed parliamentary, even before concluding investigations launched by of the Home Ministry. And of course, ignoring the judiciary mechanism that should apply .

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