King Mohammed VI pardons dozens of inmates convicted on Hirak-related charges

On the occasion of Eid al-Adha, King Mohammed VI has granted his pardon to 160 inmates convicted on Hirak-rekated charges, reports French-language online newspaper Le Desk.

The information was revealed through the country’s news agency (MAP), which stated, Tuesday 21st of August, that the sovereign has pardoned 886 prisoners in total.

Other sources bring a different number, stating that only 140 Hirak detainees were covered by the royal pardon. The National Human Rights Council (CNDH), on the other hand, states that 188 inmates sentenced following the Hirak events have been pardoned on Tuesday.

Hirak detainees getting out of Oukacha, Casablanca local prison./Ph. Mehdi Moussahim- Yabiladi

According to security sources contacted by Le Desk, 11 Hirak detainees out of the 160 that were granted pardon by the King were held in the Casablanca’s local prison and were released on Tuesday.

Most of them were, reportedly, granted prison sentences ranging between 1 and 3 years.

For the record, 52 Hirak detainees received heavy sentences, June the 26th, ranging between one and 20 years, for participating to the Hirak unrest in Al Hoceima.