Ms. Amina Bouayach, Chairperson of the National Human Rights Council (CNDH), and Messrs. Ahmed Abbadi, General Secretary of the Rabita Mohammadia of the Oulémas, Mohamed Saleh Tamek, General Delegate for Prison Administration and Reintegration, Fouzi Lekjaa, Minister Delegate in charge of the Budget, and Abdelouahed Jamali Idrissi, General Coordinator of Mohammed VI Foundation for the Rehabilitation of Prisoners, signed a partnership agreement on Thursday 2 November 2023, in Rabat, Morocco, to establish a Reconciliation Center entrusted with rehabilitating those convicted of extremism and terrorism.

This agreement aims mainly to rehabilitate prisoners convicted of extremism/terrorism and enhance the effectiveness of institutional partnerships among parties and other institutional stakeholders.

In his statement, Mr. Ahmed Abbadi highlighted that establishing this Center aims to document successful experiences and best practices within the reconciliation program for the rehabilitation and reintegration of prisoners sentenced in cases of extremism/terrorism. This program demonstrated a significant and effective role in combating extremism in prisons.

The Center will undertake new missions mainly related to formulating programs to prevent falling into extremism, taking measures to protect the direct family environment of the Reconciliation Program’s beneficiaries from adopting extremist ideas, conducting relevant studies, research, meetings, training sessions, etc.

The CNDH has been involved in implementing the “Reconciliation Program”, which was prepared by the General Delegation for Prison Administration and Reintegration (DGAPR) in cooperation with its partners. Participants in this program addressed several topics, including human rights, transitional justice, reconciliation in Morocco, international experiences, combating incitement to violence and hatred, roles of National Human Rights Institutions, etc.