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At a time when only a few left-wing parties commented on the bill, reinstating compulsory military service in the Kingdom, the Istiqlal party has finally broken silence on the decision made public in August.
In a communiqué, published on the conservative party’s website, Istiqlal announced that members of its executive committee held a meeting presided by Secretary-General Nizar Baraka, Tuesday 4th of August, to discuss compulsory military service.
The party urged in its statement the government to make «pedagogical efforts and correct negative stereotypes and common misconceptions associated with compulsory military service». It also asked the bodies in charge to change popular misapprehensions, suggesting that the project is meant to «punish young men and women, suppress and block their creativity».
Istiqlal called the government to make the process of discussing the bill an opportunity to consider the different opinions out there and to «pay close attention to the ambitions of young people in the country».
For the record, the government will be discussing the bill, approved on Monday, 20th of August, by Prime Minister Saadeddine El Othmani’s cabinet, on compulsory military service in a parliament session soon.
Refusing a compulsory military service
The party’s reaction comes as compulsory military service has been rejected by a collective launched on social media. Dubbed «No to Compulsory Military Service», the campaign was first launched through the creation of a private Facebook group.
For the group, «the way in which this bill has been reintroduced is not democratic, since it has not been subjected to a vote and was not part of the government’s program that gets approved by the parliament».
On the 25th of August, a number of activists posted a petition on petition website Change.org, explaining that they reject the implementation of the bill.
For these young people, the educational system, health services, culture and employment must be put first. «Will compulsory military service improve the situation of young people or is it just a quick fix ?» wondered the group.
