of her father8 how many women held seats in Parliament and had access to the civil service, higher education and the liberal professions; whether the principle of ‘(equal pay for equal wwk” was applied in both the public and private sectors; why Morocco had not ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women; whether conditions were imposed on foreign associations different from those to be met by national associations: whether men were entitled to the benefits granted to working women: what criteria were used in fixing the minimum wage; whether a marriage between a Muslim woman and a Catholic or Jewish man was valid under Moroccan law and, if so, which inheritance laws applied; whether there were secular laws of inheritance applicable to non-believers; what were the conditions to be fulfilled by women in order to stand for election8 whether men also had to have acquired a minimum age of 25 years for that purpose; and whether women could become members of Parliament. i 245. In his reply, the representative Stated that the spouse of a Moroccan citizen did not automatically acquire Moroccan nationality. A foreign woman marrying a Moroccan could, after two years of marriage, acquire Moroccan nationality simply by an order of the Minister of Justice; foreign husbands must have been married for five years and obtain Moroccan nationality by was in principle acquired at birth when the decree. Moroccan nationality father was Moroccan and any child born in Morocco automatically acquired Moroccan nationality. In connection with the question of inheritance, there were three different systems in Morocco: Islamic law, which applied to Hebraic law, which applied to citieens of the citisens of the Muslim religion: Jewish faith1 and the international system, which applied to aliens. However, inheritance laws in Morocco were based directly on the principles of the Koran, and womenwere in a somewhat less favourable position in that respect, However, women had never requested the abolition of the Koranic rules applicable to them with regard to personal and inheritance status. Aliens could not participate in local or general elections, be elected to local, municipal, communal or provincial assemblies or sit in the Chamber of . Representatives. 246. In reply to other questions, the representative sald that Moroccan men and women could join the party or trade union organisation of their choice. A husband’s consent to the passport application and travel of his wife was required. Equality between men and women applied to the right to participate in elections either as a voter or as a candidate. Womenwere currently membersof communal and provincial assemblies but although a number of them had stood for Parliament none had been elected. Womenwere employed in publio administration, the universities and local authorities, and the 1973 Act on the employment of women and minors stipulated that women must receive the same pay as men for the same work. Womencould not serve in the police force or in the auxiliary forces and could not act as a representative of authority but could enlist in the army, They were not liable for military service, but, like men, they were obligated to do two years of civil service. Womenworking in the public or the private sector enjoyed special advantages linked with their female status. Foreign associations, banks and companies enjoyed the Sam rights as their Moroccan counterparts. The Ministry of Justice employed a counsellor to advise on matters of personal status and inheritance rights Wwerning Jews. The m stipulated that there could be no right of inheritance between Muslims and non-believers. -61-