Morocco's constitutional guarantee of free speech under Article 28 faces practical limitations from Law 88-13 on the press and the Code of Criminal Procedure. These laws impose restrictions that critics argue hinder public debate and democratic participation.
According to a 2023 report by Reporters Without Borders, Morocco ranks 130th out of 180 countries in press freedom, citing legal harassment of journalists and closure of media outlets. The law 88-13, enacted in 2016, requires journalists to reveal sources in certain cases and imposes heavy fines for defamation, which activists say chills investigative reporting.
In 2024, the Moroccan government proposed amendments to the press code to address some concerns, but human rights groups like Amnesty International noted that key provisions criminalizing online speech remained unchanged. The debate over balancing security and freedom continues, with no major reforms passed as of June 2026.
