Mohammed VI pardons 1,484 people on the occasion of Eid Al-Adha and performs the Eid prayer at the Hassan II Mosque in Tetouan
King Mohammed VI of Morocco announced the pardon of 1,484 people, 1,209 of them in prison, on the occasion of the Feast of Sacrifice (Eid Al-Adha), a celebration of great importance for Muslims, which coincides with the end of the annual pilgrimage to Mecca.
The Moroccan Ministry of Justice announced the prison situation of the more than 1,200 people pardoned on the occasion of this Muslim festival.
One of these people had been sentenced to life imprisonment and will now have his sentence reduced to a limited period. Meanwhile, 114 other prisoners have also had their remaining prison sentence commuted to direct release.
The vast majority of them, 1,094 people, have had their prison sentences reduced, according to the official Moroccan news agency MAP.
The beneficiaries of the royal pardon who are free are 275 people, distributed as follows:
- Pardon on the prison sentence or its remainder for the benefit of 69 persons.
- Pardon on the prison sentence with maintenance of the fine for the benefit of 6 persons.
- Pardon of a fine for the benefit of 189 persons.
- Pardon of prison sentence and fine for the benefit of 9 persons.
- Pardon on the penalty of fine and the remainder of the imprisonment for the benefit of two persons.
Peculiarities of the Eid Al-Adha holiday
Eid Al-Adha is one of the most important festivals in the Islamic calendar and commemorates the willingness of Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to God. The festival is marked by prayers, feasts and charitable donations.
In the Moroccan kingdom, it is customary for people to wear traditional garments such as the 'jellaba' and 'balgha' (traditional shoes), while children are often given new clothes for the occasion.
On the morning of Eid, men, women and children gather in mosques or open-air prayer areas called "musallas" to participate in Eid prayers.
The act of sacrificing a sheep, goat or cow has a particular significance during Eid Al-Adha, as it symbolises obedience and the willingness to make sacrifices in accordance with one's faith.
People embrace each other warmly and exchange greetings with the phrase "Eid Mubarak", which means "Have a blessed Eid".
Gifts to children and visits to friends and relatives are also typical of the holiday.
On the occasion of this holiday, Eid Al-Adha prayer and sacrificial rituals were organised in Tetouan in the presence of King Mohammed VI himself. The Moroccan monarch, accompanied by Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan, Prince Moulay Rachid, Prince Moulay Ahmed and Prince Moulay Ismaïl, led the prayer at the Hassan II Mosque in Tetouan.
Many citizens gathered along the route of the royal procession to share this important moment with King Mohammed VI. On his arrival at the mosque, the Moroccan sovereign reviewed a detachment of the Royal Guard that was paying honours.
