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Morocco's Equity and Reconciliation Commission


In early 2004, King Mohammed VI of Morocco signed a Dahir (royal decree) creating the mandate for the Equity and Reconciliation Commission, better known by its French name Instance Équité et Réconciliation (IER). This truth commission was created to investigate the abuses, including forced disappearances and arbitrary arrests, that took place in Morocco from 1956 to 1999, under the two previous monarchs.

The IER operated under a two-year mandate from 2004-2006 with seventeen commissioners. The committee investigated approximately 20,000 cases, resulting in a number of recommendations to the state including: reparations (financial, psychological, medical and social), modification of the constitution, and ratification of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC), among others. The commission distributed $85 million USD within 18 months of the commission ending.

The nature of this commission was unprecedented and continues to hold significance. There was, and still is, some criticism over the original mandate as well as the actions taken by the government since the report was released. However, author and truth commission expert Priscilla B. Hayner, considers this commission one of the five strongest truth commissions ever.

In 1965, Morocco gained independence from France, becoming a free nation. It had previously been under French rule as a protectorate, placed in this position under the auspice of the Scramble for Africa in 1912. Forty-four years later, the newly independent Kingdom of Morocco began its rediscovered independence as a constitutional monarchy, headed by Sultan Mohammed V. In 1957, Mohammed V became King of Morocco, reorganizing the state to promote reform and growth, particularly in the legislature with the inclusion of representation for the indigenous population. However, King Mohammed V soon feared opposition movements and reacted by violently quelling any dissenting groups or individuals. This was the beginning of forced "disappearances" and arbitrary arrests. While Mohammed V only ruled for five years before his death in 1961, his son, King Hassan II came to power with an even heavier hand, that soon resulted in arbitrary rule. This period would become known as the "Years of Lead".


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