Morocco: Information on whether Moroccan authorities in 1982 issued a decree, order or policy on recruiting recent male school graduates for military service, on its implementation at the national and local levels, including selection, duration of service, the tasks imposed on draftees and the possibility of early release, military service conditions from 1983 to 1989, and any distinction between military training and military service
| Publisher | Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 November 1994 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | MAR18690.E |
| Cite as | Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Morocco: Information on whether Moroccan authorities in 1982 issued a decree, order or policy on recruiting recent male school graduates for military service, on its implementation at the national and local levels, including selection, duration of service, the tasks imposed on draftees and the possibility of early release, military service conditions from 1983 to 1989, and any distinction between military training and military service, 1 November 1994, MAR18690.E, available at: http://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6aab970.html [accessed 19 June 2013] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Information on whether in 1982 Moroccan authorities issued a decree, order or policy on recruiting recent male school graduates for military service, on its implementation at the national and local levels, including selection, duration of service, the tasks imposed on draftees and the possibility of early release, is currently unavailable to the DIRB in Ottawa.
According to Morocco: A Country Study, in 1967 the king of Morocco issued a zahir, which introduced a system of conscription (Feb. 1986, 338). Under this decree, young men were required to serve 18 months in the army after reaching the age of 18 (ibid.). The age of conscription was still the same in 1984 (ibid.). According to The Military Balance 1990-1991, the military is composed largely of volunteers, and the duration of service is 18 months (IISS 1990, 113). According to a United Nations report entitled Consciencious Objection to Military Service, there are no provisions for consciencious objection to military service (1985, 24). This report does not mention whether there is any possibility of alternative service, but states that some persons were allowed to serve in underdeveloped areas of the country instead of performing active duty (ibid., 27). The same report also indicates that a failure to fulfill military duties could be punished by imprisonment (ibid., 28).
This response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.
References
Morocco: A Country Study. February 1985. Edited by Harold D. Nelson. Washington, DC: Secretary of the Army.
International Institute for Military Studies (IISS). 1990. The Military Balance 1990-1991. London: Brassey's.
United Nations. 1985. Conscientious Objection to Military Service. New York: United Nations. Report prepared by the United Nations Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities.
Attachments
Morocco: A Country Study. February 1985. Edited by Harold D. Nelson. Washington, DC: Secretary of the Army, pp. 323-40.
The International Institute for Military Studies. 1991. The Military Balance 1990-1991. London: Brassey's, p. 113-14.
Other Source Consulted
On-line searches for news articles.
