Morocco celebrates today the 15th anniversary of King Mohammed VI’s accession to the throne.
A communiqué released by the Palace states that the King will address today a speech to the nation which will be broadcasted through national TV and radio. The traditional ceremony of allegiance, known as the bey’a, will take place tomorrow at the Mechouar Square in Rabat.
In line with the celebration of the Throne Day, the Ministry of Justice and Freedoms announced that the King will grant a royal pardon to 13,218 individuals convicted by Moroccan courts, including 119 for “humanitarian” reasons. The King earlier granted a royal pardon to 277 people on the occasion of the celebration of Eid al-Fitr.
Held every year on the occasion of the Throne Day, the ceremony of allegiance gathers hundreds of civil servants representing Moroccan provinces to swear their loyalty to the monarch. In the past few years, many Moroccans started criticizing this ceremony as an outdated and degrading practice which should no longer be celebrated.
The Moroccan Times.
