فاس نيوز ميديا جريدة الكترونية جهوية تعنى بشؤون و أخبار جهة فاس مكناس – متجددة على مدار الساعة
Fes News – Rabat
December 6, 2025
The Ministry of Justice, in coordination with the General Directorate of National Security, the Royal Gendarmerie High Command, and the Public Prosecutor’s Office, has issued new instructions that will come into effect on Monday, December 8, 2025, requiring the recording of all official interrogation reports conducted during the police custody phase in audio and video, with the recording attached on a CD/DVD or secure electronic medium that becomes an integral part of the report file sent to the Public Prosecutor’s Office.
Official Reasons for the New Measure
- Putting a definitive end to suspects’ claims before the Public Prosecutor’s Office that “the police or gendarmerie made me say this” or that confessions were extracted under pressure or coercion.
- Strengthening fair trial guarantees and protecting suspects’ rights.
- Reinforcing the evidentiary value of reports before the judiciary and reducing repeated challenges to their validity.
- Keeping pace with international recommendations in the field of human rights and combating torture (Istanbul Protocol, Convention against Torture…).
Practical Implementation
- Every police station or gendarmerie unit equipped with designated interrogation rooms will be required to use a high-quality camera and microphone.
- The suspect is informed of their right to refuse video recording (but their refusal is documented and does not stop the audio procedure).
- A copy of the recording is delivered to the lawyer upon their arrival.
- The original recording is kept in a secure electronic vault for at least 10 years.
Initial Reactions
- Public Prosecutor’s Office: Welcomed the measure and considered it “a revolution in ensuring transparency.”
- Bar Associations: Called for extending the recording to interrogation sessions before investigating judges as well.
- Human Rights Organizations: Welcomed it but warned of the need to implement the measure in all areas without exception and provide necessary equipment in remote areas.
This measure represents a historic step in the process of modernizing judicial procedures in Morocco and puts an end to one of the most prominent sources of controversy in criminal cases. Video recording is expected to be gradually extended to investigating judge sessions during 2026.
