فاس نيوز ميديا جريدة الكترونية جهوية تعنى بشؤون و أخبار جهة فاس مكناس – متجددة على مدار الساعة
On Monday, Minister of Justice Abdellatif Ouahbi raised the alarm regarding the growing phenomenon of carrying knives by citizens in public spaces. He emphasized that this criminal behavior poses a direct threat to public safety and requires a firm legal response.
In his response to questions from MPs during a public session in the House of Representatives, Ouahbi stressed that existing laws are being enforced with the utmost strictness. He indicated that the new draft of the Criminal Procedure Code aims to increase this rigidity, particularly by expanding the definition of “carrying a weapon” under Article 303 bis, which provides for harsher penalties for offenders.
The minister did not hide his concern over some of the shocking assaults witnessed in Moroccan streets, mentioning horrific cases such as the severing of a police officer’s hand and the assault on young girls, disfiguring their faces. He asserted that such crimes cannot be tolerated under any circumstances.
In this context, Ouahbi confirmed that the ministry will deal with all individuals involved in these acts harshly, praising the approach adopted by both the public prosecution and the judiciary, which, according to him, reflect a clear will to eradicate the roots of crime through the strict application of the law.
The minister went beyond mere diagnosis and called for an effective deterrent approach, stating that any sharp object carried in the street without a legitimate reason should be considered a direct threat to societal security.
In a notable move, Ouahbi suggested that parents could be held legally accountable if their minor child commits a crime using a knife, saying: “If he’s a minor, we’ll go to his father… Why did you let your son carry a knife? This is the participatory approach we need to work on.”
The Minister’s remarks come at a time when many Moroccan cities are witnessing an alarming increase in incidents related to “tashmil” (street violence), making this issue a prominent topic of public and parliamentary debate.
Source: Fes News Media
