Mawlid royal pardon reaffirms Morocco’s values of mercy, moderation | Samar Al-Qasem

RABAT – King Mohammed VI has granted a Royal pardon to 634 people convicted by various courts across Morocco, including prisoners and people at liberty, as well as 15 people convicted in extremism and terrorism cases who have undergone ideological reviews and renounced radicalism.

The pardon, issued on the occasion of Eid Al Mawlid Annabawi, the commemoration of the birth of Prophet Mohammed, gives the religious occasion an additional humanitarian dimension, while reflecting Morocco’s approach of combining clemency and moderation with firmness in protecting public security and stability.

Morocco’s Ministry of Justice said the pardon covered 619 people convicted in various cases, including 462 detainees. 13 of those in custody were granted remission of the remainder of their prison or custodial sentences, while the sentences of 449 others were reduced.

A further 157 people who were already at liberty benefited from measures covering prison sentences or the remainder of such sentences, as well as fines or both imprisonment and fines.

The decision also covered 15 people convicted in extremism and terrorism cases after they announced that they had reviewed their ideological positions and orientations, rejected extremism and terrorism, and reaffirmed their commitment to Morocco’s religious constants, sacred values and national institutions.

Nine of the 15 received remission of the remainder of their custodial sentences, while the sentences of the other six were reduced.

The inclusion of the group highlights a broader Moroccan approach to countering extremism that goes beyond security and judicial measures, while opening avenues for ideological review, reconciliation and reintegration for those who publicly break with radical thought.

The approach seeks to combine a firm response to threats against state and public security with an opportunity for those demonstrating a willingness to abandon violent ideology and return to society. In this framework, ideological and religious rehabilitation is presented as a complement to security measures rather than an alternative to them.

The decision coincided with Morocco’s observance of Mawlid, which King Mohammed VI, in his capacity as Amir Al-Mouminine, presided over at the Royal Palace in Rabat.

The ceremony was attended by Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan, Prince Moulay Rachid and Prince Moulay Ahmed, alongside senior officials, ulema and religious figures.

The occasion also highlighted Morocco’s distinctive model for managing religious affairs, centred on the institution of the Amir Al-Mouminine as a unifying authority tasked with safeguarding the kingdom’s religious constants and maintaining the unity of its religious sphere.

That model places particular emphasis on moderation and tolerance while seeking to counter forms of religious excess and radicalism.

Minister of Endowments and Islamic Affairs Ahmed Toufiq presented King Mohammed VI with a review of the activities of the Higher Council of Ulema and local scholarly councils, including initiatives marking the 15th lunar century since the birth of Prophet Mohammed.

The programme also highlighted Morocco’s long scholarly tradition and its contribution to Islamic heritage through the works of some of the kingdom’s most prominent religious figures.

Among those recalled were Cadi Ayyad, author of “Al-Shifa,” and Al-Ozfi, author of “Al-Durr Al-Manzum,” both prominent scholars associated with Ceuta, as well as Imam Al-Jazouli, author of “Dalail Al-Khayrat.”

Their works and legacy reflect the depth of Morocco’s historical connection to the Prophet’s life and teachings and the contribution of Moroccan scholars to Islamic intellectual and religious heritage over centuries.

Toufiq also presented the King with a copy of “Dakhirat Al Muhtaj Fi Assalati Ala Sahibi Alliwae Wa Taj,” a work prepared using manuscripts preserved in royal, public and private libraries in Morocco and abroad.

The publication is part of efforts to preserve, revive and make Morocco’s religious heritage accessible to new generations.

That focus on religious heritage is closely linked to the kingdom’s broader effort in recent years to strengthen the religious sphere against extremist currents by regulating religious discourse, reinforcing scholarly institutions and promoting moderation, tolerance and coexistence.

It is in this context that the link between the religious message of Mawlid and the Royal pardon becomes particularly significant, especially for those convicted of extremist offences who have undergone ideological reassessment.

The same approach that takes a firm position against violence leaves open a path back into society for those who reject radicalism and choose reintegration.

The Mawlid pardon therefore carries a meaning that extends beyond the remission or reduction of sentences. It forms part of a wider conception that seeks to combine the protection of stability with rehabilitation, while safeguarding Morocco’s religious reference point and allowing space for ideological reassessment.

The celebration also underscores the distinctive role Morocco assigns to the institution of the Amir Al-Mouminine in balancing religious authority and state institutions, with moderation serving as a means of strengthening social cohesion.

The Royal pardon, in turn, represents the humanitarian dimension of that approach: a balance between mercy and firmness, protecting society while offering a renewed opportunity to those who choose to return to it.