Fiesta del Trono: el rey Mohamed VI indulta a 1.769 personas

This year, the activities of the Throne Festival in Morocco will not take place again due to the protection measures for the coronavirus pandemic. For the third year in a row, there will be no celebration of this important date for the Alawi kingdom. But the traditional pardon granted by King Mohammed VI to certain prisoners on the occasion has arrived. 

The Moroccan king has totally or partially pardoned 1,769 people sentenced by different courts in the country, according to the Ministry of Justice, on the occasion of the celebration of the Feast of the Throne, which this Saturday commemorates its 23rd anniversary.

According to MAP, the official news agency of the North African country, these measures of grace have benefited people in detention or on provisional release, including people serving sentences with incurable diseases, the elderly, pregnant women and others with minors in their care.

Up to 74 prisoners will benefit from a pardon on their outstanding sentence, while 1,375 will have their sentences reduced. Two others will have their death sentences commuted to life imprisonment and eight will have their life sentences commuted to temporary imprisonment. 

The beneficiaries of the royal pardon who are at liberty are 310 persons. 100 of these persons will benefit from a pardon on their prison sentence or what remains of their sentence. Another ten persons will be pardoned, but with the maintenance of the fine applied. A further 190 persons will have the fine withdrawn. And, finally, ten persons will benefit from a pardon on the prison sentence and the fine. 

Morocco had decided to suspend all activities and ceremonies scheduled for the Throne Festival, which commemorates the 23rd anniversary of the coronation of King Mohammed VI. The traditional speech by the Alawite monarch is still being held.

Thus, the decision was taken to suspend the traditional reception ceremony presided over by Mohammed VI, the swearing-in ceremony for new officers graduating from the various military, paramilitary and civilian schools and institutes, and the ceremony of allegiance to the Emir Al-Mouminine (Commander of the Believers), as well as all parades and events.

This new cancellation of face-to-face events on the occasion of the Feast of the Throne once again demonstrates the intense work of the Moroccan authorities, led by King Mohammed VI, to continue fighting the scourge of COVID-19 and to continue protecting the population from the possible spread of the disease. 

The government led by Aziz Akhannouch recently announced the extension of the state of health emergency to deal with the coronavirus pandemic throughout the country. This extension will last until 30 September, after the previous announcement at the end of July. 

For the moment, the deadline is 30 September, but further extensions are not ruled out depending on the infection figures in the North African country. The decree extending the state of emergency will come into force at 6 p.m. on Sunday 31 July, as indicated by the Moroccan Interior Ministry. Moroccan citizens should continue to wear masks in certain places and avoid crowds, as well as continue to wash their hands properly to prevent the spread of the virus. Certain restrictions on entering and leaving the country are also being maintained, and emphasis will be placed on continuing the vaccination process for all those who have not yet received the full vaccination regimen.