RABAT, Morocco

– King Mohammed VI granted pardons on Monday to three journalists previously sentenced to prison for charges related to corruption and abuse of power, a move that has drawn both applause and skepticism from human rights advocates. The pardons, which were part of a larger clemency for 2,278 individuals coinciding with Morocco's Throne Day celebrations, apply only to the journalists' prison sentences and not to the civil penalties imposed by the courts. The released journalists—Omar Radi, Taoufik Bouachrine, and Soulaimane Raissouni—were met with cheers from supporters as they exited the Tiflet prison. While human rights activists welcomed their release, they emphasized that the pardons do not absolve the politically motivated prosecutions that led to their convictions. Critics argue that the charges against the journalists, which included serious allegations such as human trafficking and sexual assault, were fabricated to suppress dissent against the Moroccan government. Human Rights Watch has documented a pattern of the Moroccan authorities using severe charges to silence critics, particularly since the late 2010s. The journalists gained international attention when reports surfaced suggesting they were targets of surveillance by Moroccan officials using sophisticated spyware. Bouachrine, an editor of a critical newspaper, received a 12-year sentence in 2018, while Radi was sentenced to six years in 2021. The pardons have reignited discussions about press freedom in Morocco, where the government has been accused of employing various tactics to stifle opposition and control the narrative surrounding its governance.