Mohamed VI pardons 653 people on the occasion of the anniversary of the Revolution of the King and People
Moroccan King Mohamed VI has pardoned 653 individuals on the occasion of the anniversary of the King and People's Revolution, a day when Moroccans commemorate the nation's heroic struggle against colonialism and for independence, as well as the unbreakable union between the monarchy and the people.
The list of those who have benefited from royal pardon this year, which is customary during national and religious celebrations in Morocco, was released by the Ministry of Justice. Those pardoned include 16 people who had been convicted in cases of extremism and terrorism in the past.
However, King Mohammed VI granted the pardon to these prisoners after they had "officially expressed their adherence to the unwavering and sacred constants of the nation and national institutions, revised their ideological orientations and rejected extremism and terrorism", as the Ministry of Justice pointed out.
Among those pardoned are also prisoners who have been granted pardons for their remaining prison sentences, convicts who have had their prison terms reduced and four prisoners who have had their life sentences commuted to limited prison terms.
Although some of those convicted benefited from a reprieve from their prison sentences, their fines were maintained. Others, on the other hand, had their fines cancelled, while others benefited from both the pardon of their prison sentences and fines.
Pardons are common on days like this, as are speeches by King Mohammed VI. However, this year, as announced by the Royal Palace in a communiqué at the end of June, the monarch will not address the nation in a speech.
The reason for the cancellation, according to the royal note, is that this holiday comes a few days after the Throne Day speech, which was held on 30 July, and before Parliament's new legislative year, when he also addresses the people. The monarch's speeches are particularly important as they define the guidelines for the Kingdom's domestic and foreign policy.
