Upholding Privacy Rights: Minister Denounces Hotels' Marriage Certificate Requirement

Wednesday 22 May 2024 - 09:15

In a move to reinforce citizens' rights and protect them from abuses, Justice Minister Abdellatif Ouahbi declared on Tuesday, May 21, that the practice of hotels requiring Moroccan couples to provide a marriage certificate as a condition for being assigned a room is illegal and a violation of privacy.

This statement was made during a session of the House of Counselors, where Ouahbi affirmed that his research over the past twenty years had found no legal basis for this practice.

The Justice Minister clarified that any entity requiring documents from citizens without a legal foundation is violating the law and must be held accountable in court. Requesting a marriage certificate or any other document without legal mandate is a clear infringement on individuals' privacy, he added.

The minister also highlighted that some hotels demand women provide a certificate proving they do not reside in the city where they wish to book a hotel room, a practice he deems discriminatory and unjustifiable by law. For him, such requirements only serve to complicate citizens' lives and impose illegal restrictions.

Ouahbi concluded his remarks with a clear warning to anyone demanding unauthorized documents from citizens, stating that they would be subject to legal prosecution. He called on all entities to respect the laws in force and uphold individuals' rights and privacy. "I have been searching for 20 years for a basis for this practice, but I have found none," he emphasized.

This initiative by the Justice Minister seems to reflect a governmental orientation towards reinforcing the rule of law and safeguarding citizens' rights against any abuse that could undermine their interests and dignity, thereby strengthening confidence in the country's legal and judicial system.