Morocco’s King Mohammed VI has awarded royal pardons to 667 persons condemned by courts around the country as the country commemorates Youth Day.
- King Mohammed VI of Morocco granted royal pardons to 667 people on Youth Day.
- Of those pardoned, 526 were currently in jail, with various levels of sentence reductions and full pardons.
- Another 141 individuals not currently detained also received pardon benefits, such as sentence reductions or fine waivers.
- Morocco’s Youth Day, celebrated on August 21 and marking the king’s birthday, has a history of youth-led activism and significant movements.
Youth Day in the country has held some of the most eventful movements and moments in the North African country’s history, and the move by Morocco’s king is the latest in a long line of interesting developments on the day.
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According to a statement released by Morocco’s Ministry of Justice, the recipients include 526 persons currently in jail and 141 who are not detained.
Pardon of prisoners in Morocco on the 2026 Youth Day
Per the statement mentioned above, the beneficiaries of the Royal Pardon currently in custody total 526 individuals, categorized as follows: full exemption from the remaining prison term or detention for 7 inmates.
“Remission of prison or detention sentences for the benefit of 517 prisoners. Commutation of life sentences to fixed-term sentences for the benefit of 02 prisoners.
The beneficiaries of the Royal Pardon who are at liberty number 141, distributed as follows: -Pardon on the prison sentence or its remainder for the benefit of 62 people,” the statement read.
“Pardon on the prison sentence with the fine maintained for the benefit of 13 people. Pardon on the fine sentence for the benefit of 59 people. Pardon on the prison sentence and fine granted to 07 people,” it added.
Morocco Youth Day
Morocco’s Youth Day, which is a pivotal event for the country, takes place on August 21.
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The celebration has become tied to King Mohammed VI’s birthday since his ascension to the throne in 1999.
The monarch turns 63 this year, as the event commemorates its 70th anniversary, as seen on Morocco World News.
A notable moment memorializing the day came in 2011 when young Moroccans organized the pro-democratic march, which came to be known as the February 20 movement.
The protest advocated for political reforms, more judicial independence, and action against corruption and unemployment.
Youth-led activism resumed with protests in the Rif area in 2016 and 2017 and demonstrations in Jerada in 2018, with demands for jobs, public services, and regional development.
In 2025, the Generation Z, or “Jil Zid,” movement developed on platforms such as Discord, TikTok, and Instagram, highlighting concerns about healthcare, education, jobs, social justice, and corruption, and was projected around the Youth Day
