The House of Representatives Adopts the Bill on the Adoul Profession in Second Reading

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The House of Representatives Approves Bill No. 16.22 Regulating the Profession of Adoul
On Tuesday, April 28, 2026, the House of Representatives approved, by majority vote, Bill No. 16.22 concerning the organization of the adoul profession during its second reading. The text was validated with 77 votes in favor versus 39 against.
Withdrawal of an Amendment on the Testimony of “Lâfif”
Regarding amendments, the government withdrew a proposal related to Article 67, which addressed the testimony of the “lâfif.” This proposal suggested adding the phrase "men and women" to the requirement for the 12 witnesses.
Clarifications on Interpretation Risks
Justice Minister Abdellatif Wahbi explained that, while he supports this wording in principle, it could lead to varying interpretations. Some may perceive it as mandating gender diversity within each group of witnesses, rather than merely allowing both sexes.
Divergent Judicial Practices
He also highlighted the existence of differing practices in the judiciary concerning women’s testimony, with some magistrates accepting it autonomously, while others adhere to traditional interpretations.
Maintaining Current Wording Pending Clarification
The minister called for the retention of the current version of the article until a definitive clarification is achieved, either through an appeal to the Constitutional Court or via regulatory mechanisms. This would allow for a potential future revision of the text, if necessary.
This translation maintains the original essence, tone, and intent of the French article while ensuring it reads smoothly in English.



