M'hammed Abdenabaoui (also spelled Abdennabaoui) (in Arabic: مَحمد عبد النباوي), born on 21 August 1954 in Khouribga, is a senior Moroccan magistrate and the former attorney general of the King at the Court of Cassation.[1] In 2021, he was appointed by king Mohammed VI as the first President of the Court of Cassation and deputy President of the Supreme Council of the Judicial Power. He's a noted defender of the independence of the judiciary from the legislative and executive branches.

Abdenabaoui at the 2nd International Justice Conference in Marrakesh (2019).

Biography

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M'hammed Abdenabaoui was born on 21 August 1954 in Khouribga.[1][2]

Qualifications

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He graduated with a law degree from Mohammed V university (Rabat) in 1978 and completed his early training at the Superior Institute of Judicial Studies in 1979. In 1993, he received a specialized diploma in Administrative Justice from the French National Institute of Judicial Studies (INEJ). In 1999, he earned an Advanced Degree (DESA) in Law from Hassan II university (Casablanca) and, in 2015, a Doctorate in Law with High Honors from Caddi Ayad university (Marrakesh).[2] His thesis on Moroccan law and international conventions on the deportation of criminals was praised by the jury[3] and later published.[4]

Early career

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After having worked as a Substitute General Prosecutor in various southern cities (Tan Tan, Laayoune and Dakhla) in 1979–80, and as a resident judge in Ouaouizeght until 2004, he acted as the Crown's General Prosecutor before the court of Laayoune (1984–87), Benslimane (1987–93), Mohammedia (1993–97) and, after a passage at the Department of Criminal Affairs and Pardons as a division chief (1997-2000), of Casablanca-Anfa (2000-04).[1][2]

Ministry of Justice

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In 2004–05, he's an adviser to the minister of Justice on criminal policy, before becoming the Director of Prison Administration and Reinsertion (2005–07) and the Director of Criminal Affairs and Pardons (2007–17).[1][2]

Crown's General Prosecutor and President of the Prosecutor's Office

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On 3 April 2017, king Mohammed VI of Morocco appointed him as the attorney general of the King before the nation's Court of Cassation,[1][5] in which capacity he's a member of the Supreme Council of the Judicial Power[6] and he also presides, since 7 October 2017, over the Prosecutor's Office (Ministère public),[7] now independent from the Ministry of Justice.[8] Since his appointment, he has given strong signals that he will be keeping the judicial branch free from any interference by the legislative and executive branches.[9][10]

Response to the COVID-19 pandemic

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In March 2020, the efforts of his Office to support the Moroccan government's measures to slow down the spread of the SARS-COV-2 virus among the population were noted by the national press, as they led to the systematic prosecution of people publishing "fake news"[11] or violating the lockdown and other measures,[12] such as the wearing of protective masks in public.[13]

President of the Court of Cassation and Deputy President of the Supreme Council of the Judicial Power

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On 22 March 2021, during a personal audience, king Mohammed VI of Morocco appointed the former attorney general of the King before the kingdom's highest court, the Court of Cassation, as the first President of the Court of Cassation and, in this capacity, as deputy President of the Supreme Council of the Judicial Power.[14]

Decorations

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  • Officer of the Wissam Al Arch Order (Morocco, 2012)[1][2]
  • Grand Officer of the Wissam Al Wakafaa Al Watania Order (Morocco, 2013)[1][2]
  • (Hon.) Commander of the Order of Leopold II (Belgium, 2017)[1][2]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h admin. "رئيس النيابة العامة – الموقع الرسمي لرئاسة النيابة العامة" (in Arabic). Retrieved 2020-04-12.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "Maroc: Qui est Mohamed Abdennabaoui, nouveau procureur général du Roi près la Cour de Cassation ?". Atlasinfo (in French). 2017-04-12. Retrieved 2020-04-12.
  3. ^ "التفاصيل الكاملة..عبد النباوي مدير الشؤون الجنائية بوزارة العدل يحصل بمراكش على الدكتوراه بميزة مشرف جدا +صور حصرية". مراكش الان | marrakech press | marrakech news (in Arabic). Retrieved 2020-04-12.
  4. ^ Abdennabaoui, M'hammed (2015). L'extradition de criminels, entre le droit interne et les conventions internationales. El Jadida: Editions Okad El Jadida. p. 445.
  5. ^ "Abdennabaoui prend ses marques". www.maroc-hebdo.press.ma (in French). Retrieved 2020-04-12.
  6. ^ "Mohammed Abdennabaoui, un "fqih du droit" patron du ministère public". Telquel.ma (in French). Retrieved 2020-04-12.
  7. ^ H, Karim; aoui (2017-10-06). "Il fait l'actu : Mohamed Abdennabaoui, nouveau président du parquet général". Challenge.ma (in French). Retrieved 2020-04-12.
  8. ^ MATIN, Ayoub Lahrache, LE (31 December 2017). "Le Matin - Le Parquet général devient indépendant du ministère de la Justice". Le Matin (in French). Retrieved 2020-04-12.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  9. ^ Le360. "Le président du Parquet général refuse tout contrôle parlementaire". Le360.ma (in French). Retrieved 2020-04-12.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  10. ^ "L'indépendance du Parquet selon Mohamed Abdennabaoui". Medias24 - Site d'information (in French). 2017-10-06. Retrieved 2020-04-12.
  11. ^ "Coronavirus et "fake news", le Parquet appelle à la fermeté". L'Economiste (in French). 2020-03-17. Retrieved 2020-04-12.
  12. ^ "Etat d'urgence sanitaire: Le Ministère public fera preuve de fermeté à l'encontre des contrevenants (responsable)". MAP Express (in French). Retrieved 2020-04-12.
  13. ^ "DOC- Port du masque de protection: Voici ce que dit la circulaire du Parquet général". L'Economiste (in French). 2020-04-07. Retrieved 2020-04-12.
  14. ^ Jaa, Yousra (March 23, 2021). "DROIT Mohamed Abdennabaoui, du Ministère public à la présidence de la Cour de cassation". No. Online. Media24.com. Retrieved June 16, 2021.