Morocco's king pardons 672 convicts to on anniversary of Prophet's birthday

Morocco's King Mohammed VI granted a royal pardon to 672 convicts on the anniversary of the Muslim Prophet's birthday.

Over the weekend, Morocco's Ministry of Justice announced a list of prisoners who will receive royal pardons, including nine convicted of charges regarding extremism and terrorism.

Five will be freed, while the rest will get reduced sentences.

"These detainees were granted the pardon after revising their ideological orientations and rejecting extremism and terrorism," said the ministry in its press release.

The royal pardon has been a staple of religious and national celebrations in Morocco, usually granted to inmates who demonstrated "good manners".

This year around 2,000 inmates in Moroccan prisons were granted royal pardons, namely those convicted in cases related to terrorism.

In 2017, the North African nation launched a reintegration programme called "Moussalaha" (Reconciliation) in its prisons, focusing on inmates convicted of "terrorism" who were willing to requestion their beliefs.

Meanwhile, calls to pardon Hirak Rif uprising detainees have yet to be heard.

The Hirak Rif movement broke out in northern Morocco's Rif region in 2016 following the crushing to death of fishmonger Mohcine Fikri in a rubbish truck in the presence of authorities.

Since then, protests have escalated, with violent clashes between demonstrators and security forces.

More than 50 members of the movement were arrested and sentenced to up to 20 years in prison, including Hirak Rif's icon, Nasser Zefzafi.

According to estimates by activists, eight detainees from the Hirak remain in Moroccan prisons, most notably Nasser Zefzafi and Nabil Ahamjik, who were both sentenced to 20 years for "serving a separatist agenda and conspiring to harm state security."

To receive a royal pardon in Morocco, the prisoner needs to submit a request in which they admit guilt and seek pardon from the highest authority in the country, with a commitment to not repeat the crime they were convicted of.

So far, Nasser Zefzafi refused a royal pardon, arguing that it holds him guilty for simply protesting social injustices in his region.

In April, Morocco's United Socialist Party suggested a parliamentary amnesty to free the rest of the Hirak activists and end the five-year-long stalemate. The draft has not yet been approved.