Rabat – King Mohammed VI has granted his royal pardon to 1,304 convicts as the country celebrates the 81st anniversary of the presentation of its independence manifesto on Saturday.
The royal pardon includes both prisoners and individuals on bail who were sentenced by various courts across the country, according to a statement from the Ministry of Justice.
A total of 948 individuals already in prison will benefit from the royal pardon. Of these, 33 individuals will have their remaining prison sentences completely forgiven, while 915 others will see their sentences reduced.
The pardon also applies to 356 people who are not in detention, including 62 individuals who will have their prison sentences, or the remaining time of their sentences, forgiven.
In addition, 15 people will have their prison sentences pardoned but will still need to pay fines, 260 individuals will have their fines forgiven, while 19 people will benefit from a pardon for both their prison sentence and fines.
The monarch grants royal pardons as part of a long-standing tradition tied to his role. It is usually issued on important national occasions, such as the anniversary of significant historical events, religious celebrations, or other national holidays.
The presentation of the independence manifesto is celebrated on January 11th each year in Morocco. It marks a key moment in the country’s history and journey to liberation.
Morocco had been under French protectorate since 1912 and the Moroccan people, led by various political groups and movements, had long sought independence.
On this day in 1944, the Independence Party presented the Manifesto of Independence to the French protectorate authorities, demanding Morocco’s full independence from colonial rule.
This document called for the end of the protectorate, the restoration of full sovereignty to Morocco, and the establishment of a constitutional monarchy. It was signed by the party’s leaders, and its publication marked the beginning of a more organized and widespread independence movement across the country.
