The royal pardon granted by King Mohammed VI on Wednesday on the occasion of the Eid al-Adha holiday brought relief to the Moroccan political scene, families of the detainees and human rights circles.
The pardon included 184 detainees, who were arrested over the Al Hoceima protests.
Morocco's Minister of Human Rights Mustafa Ramid confirmed the news on Facebook, emphasizing that 184 activists were released, including 11 detainees who were tried before the Court of Appeal in Casablanca and 173 detainees who were charged in Al Hoceima's court.
Wednesday’s development was preceded on Monday by King Mohammed’s pardoning of 22 “Salafist-jihadist” detainees.
Ramid said that the “generous” royal initiative will increase the people’s firm belief that Morocco is moving forward in spite of all difficulties that will not deter it from providing more rights and freedoms.
The Ministry of Justice issued on Monday a statement saying that King Mohammed had pardoned 889 detainees, including the Al Hoceima detainees.
Buses were sent by the National Council for Human Rights to transport the detainees to Al Hoceima city, where they arrived on Wednesday morning.
The city witnessed protests between fall 2016 and summer 2017 that were sparked by the death of fish vendor Mohsen Fikri, who was run over by a garbage truck.
