Between June 2019 and August 2026, King Mohamed VI of Morocco has granted pardons to a staggering 74,633 individuals, as revealed by the Moroccan Ministry of Justice through the official MAP agency. These pardons have included both total and partial clemency, meaning that while some individuals have been released from prison, others have experienced sentence reductions. Despite the varied nature of these pardons, the underlying message remains clear: the Moroccan state is choosing to release thousands of convicted individuals from the penalties imposed by its own judicial system, resulting in a significant number of them regaining their freedom.
Annual Increases in Pardons
The number of pardons has seen a consistent increase each year from 2022 to 2025, coinciding with Spain's support for Morocco's plan regarding Western Sahara and what the Spanish government describes as exemplary cooperation with Rabat. In 2022 alone, at least 4,885 individuals were pardoned, which surged to 6,737 in 2023, marking a 38% increase. This trend continued with 13,617 pardons in 2024, doubling the previous year’s figures, and exploding to 26,189 in 2025, nearly doubling once more. Over the course of three years, the number of pardoned individuals has increased more than five-fold, with 2024 and 2025 alone accounting for over half of all pardons granted during this period.
This significant rise can be attributed in part to extraordinary measures such as pardons for cannabis cultivators and an exceptional royal grace during the Throne Festival of 2025, which encompassed 17,258 prison sentences in addition to the usual 2,415 granted on this occasion. Additionally, ordinary pardons, typically associated with national or religious celebrations, also increased by 33% from 2023 to 2025. For instance, the Ramadan end pardon benefited 483 individuals in 2020 compared to 2,097 in 2024, while the Throne Festival pardon rose from 1,446 to 2,476 in the same timeframe. As of 2026, an additional 7,987 individuals have already been pardoned, with the year still ongoing. The exemplary cooperation touted by La Moncloa aligns each year with a broader royal grace.
Rising Numbers of Terrorism Offenders Pardoned
What raises the most concern is the notable increase in pardons for individuals convicted of terrorism. Official statements reported 17 individuals pardoned for terrorism and extremism in 2023, 18 in 2024, and a troubling 46 in 2025. As of 2026, there have already been 69 pardons, occurring over four successive pardons, which is a 50% increase compared to the entire previous year and four times the number from three years ago. Since 2022, at least 190 individuals convicted of terrorism have received pardons, and this figure is likely underestimated as several communications did not specify this data; moreover, individuals were included in 2019 and 2021 without exact numbers.
To grasp the significance of these 69 pardons, it is pertinent to remember that as of July this year, there were 677 individuals incarcerated for terrorism in Moroccan prisons, meaning that Rabat has pardoned the equivalent of one in ten of these individuals in less than nine months. The pathway for release includes the Moussalaha deradicalization program, which has seen 456 prisoners participate over a decade, with 73.6% ultimately receiving royal grace. Among those pardoned is Abdelkader Belliraj, who had been sentenced to life imprisonment and was included in the Ramadan end pardon of 2025.
Moroccan authorities require these prisoners to declare their allegiance to state institutions, reassess their ideological stances, and renounce extremism, claiming that there has been no recorded case of recidivism. However, independent sources have yet to verify these claims. This situation is particularly relevant for Spain, as Moroccans represent the largest group of foreign nationals detained for jihadism in the country, and a substantial part of the counter-terrorism efforts is conducted alongside Moroccan services. Given that Ceuta and Melilla top the charts for arrests in Spain relative to their population, the release of more terrorism offenders by a partner entrusted with border security and counter-terrorism collaboration poses a significant concern for Spanish security.
In a related note, on August 19, 2024, the king pardoned 4,831 cannabis cultivators who had been prosecuted, sought, or convicted. Rabat framed this action as a natural complement to the law enacted in 2021 that legalized cultivation for medicinal and industrial use in three provinces of the Rif, where around 60,000 families rely on the plant for their livelihoods. The challenge, however, lies in the fact that the hashish entering Spain originates from these same provinces, and no obligations compel the pardoned individuals to transition to the legal market. Current data from the Interior Ministry does not allow for definitive conclusions, but there are indications worth monitoring. Seizures of hashish fell by 44% in 2024, reaching their lowest levels in two decades, but then rebounded by 29% in 2025, the first full year following the pardons, amounting to 257 tons.
The authority to grant pardons lies solely with the king of Morocco, and no Spanish government influences this process. However, what is within La Moncloa's purview is the response to these pardons. Since 2022, Sánchez has entrusted Rabat with control over the southern border and a significant portion of counter-terrorism cooperation. Within this same timeframe, Morocco has quintupled the number of pardons, particularly for terrorism convictions, while also forgiving thousands of drug producers linked to Spain's most commonly seized narcotic. There is no record of the Spanish government requesting any explanations, nor is it known whether they are aware of the identities of those regaining their freedom across the Strait. Consequently, the pressing question is no longer about the number of pardons granted by Morocco, but rather how much longer the government intends to remain uninformed about this critical issue.
As reported by gaceta.es.
