In a significant gesture marking Morocco’s Independence Manifesto Day, King Mohammed VI has granted a royal pardon to 1,304 prisoners sentenced by Moroccan courts. The amnesty, announced by the Justice Ministry, is part of the national celebrations for the annual holiday.
The pardon, issued in honor of the day, is a customary practice in Morocco, where similar gestures are made to coincide with national and religious holidays. This year’s pardon comes as Morocco reflects on the historic significance of January 11, when the country’s nationalist leaders, in coordination with King Mohammed V, presented the 1944 Manifesto of Independence to French colonial authorities. The document called for the immediate and full independence of Morocco, marking a pivotal moment in the nation’s struggle for liberation.
Independence Manifesto Day is celebrated as a key milestone in Morocco’s path to sovereignty, and the pardon further underscores the importance of this day in the country’s modern history. King Mohammed VI’s decision to pardon prisoners is seen as a gesture of reconciliation and unity, reinforcing the nation’s commitment to the ideals of freedom and independence.