Morocco: King pardons hundreds of convicts for Eid al-Adha

His Majesty, King Mohammed VI, has pardoned 502 prisoners for the Islamic Festival of Sacrifice or Eid al-Adha, being celebrated this week. According to a Justice Ministry press release, total pardon was granted to 15 inmates over their remaining prison term or seclusion, reduction of imprisonment term or seclusion to 299, commutating of life imprisonment to time term to 3, total pardon over the prison term or its remaining time to 29.

Other royal gestures of goodwill included the reduction of fines, or release upon the payment of a fine.

The king usually grants a pardon to inmates to mark religious and national holidays.

Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika also pardoned an unknown number of convicted criminals ahead of the Eid al-Adha festival, reported official news agency Algerie Press Service.

However, prisoners sentenced for terrorism, subversion, murder, theft and drug trafficking were excluded from the amnesty.

Eid al-Adha commemorates the willingness of biblical patriarch Abraham to sacrifice his son to God.

It is celebrated on the tenth day of the Islamic calendar month of Dhul Hijja. This year it is being celebrated from 8 to 11 December.

Tags: Moroccan Morocco Fes, Maghreb news