On Wednesday, May 27, 2026, Morocco announced the royal pardon of 1,376 prisoners, among which were 20 individuals convicted of extremism and terrorism. This gesture coincided with the grand celebration of Eid al-Adha, a significant festival that the country is celebrating today, one year after King Mohammed VI chose to suspend the festivities due to a prolonged drought.
King Mohammed VI, who also holds the title of Commander of the Faithful, led the traditional Eid al-Adha prayers at a mosque in Rabat and performed the ceremonial lamb sacrifice, marking one of the most symbolic moments of the festival. During this rare public appearance, the king donned a yellow Djellaba and was accompanied by Crown Prince Moulay Hassan.
Alongside the festival’s celebrations, King Mohammed VI granted a royal pardon to 1,376 individuals, a decision encompassing the commuting of death sentences, life imprisonment sentences, and reductions in penalties. This pardon included 20 individuals connected with cases of extremism and terrorism, who, according to the Ministry of Justice, "formally expressed their adherence to national values and rejected extremism."
Early in the morning, thousands of Moroccans flocked to mosques to participate in the prayers, reviving a tradition that had been suspended last year due to a crisis prompted by seven years of drought. Although recent heavy rains have alleviated some of the water scarcity issues, the rise in livestock prices has become a widespread concern among the populace.
Nevertheless, Moroccans wholeheartedly embraced a day when millions of sheep are slaughtered across the nation to commemorate Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his own son as an act of obedience to God, who intervened and provided him with a ram instead.
In major cities such as Rabat, Casablanca, and Fès, it is not uncommon to see live lambs tethered at doorways, garage gates, or courtyards before their slaughter, or to encounter street fires where the heads and legs of the animals are burned to prepare for family meals, which, according to tradition, take place between today and the following Thursday. More than 1.8 billion Muslims worldwide are celebrating Eid al-Adha on this day, marking the most important festival in Islam.
As reported by mallorca-services.es.
