Morocco King pardons 900 prisoners, including 170 Rif activists

Protesters stage a demonstration in solidarity with people who were arrested, Bab El Had square in Rabat, Morocco on 11 June, 2017 [Stringer/Anadolu Agency]

King Mohammed VI has pardoned 889 detainees, including more than 170 arrested recently for taking part in protests in Morocco’s restive Rif region, the Justice Ministry has revealed.

A royal decree was issued giving amnesty to those imprisoned as part of the country’s measures to celebrate Eid, the ministry said in a statement.

No details were given about the individuals pardoned, but according to local media reports, they include at least 170 people recently detained for taking part in demonstrations in the northern Rif region.

Since late 2016, Morocco’s mountainous Rif region has seen intermittent street demonstrations to demand local development and an end to perceived government corruption.

Late last year, the King sacked four government ministers for ostensibly failing to implement a viable development plan for the region.

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