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Moroccan King Pardons 17 Al Hoceima Detainees

The Moroccan monarch while performing the Eid al-Fitr prayer yesterday (MAP)
The Moroccan monarch while performing the Eid al-Fitr prayer yesterday (MAP)
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Moroccan King Pardons 17 Al Hoceima Detainees

The Moroccan monarch while performing the Eid al-Fitr prayer yesterday (MAP)
The Moroccan monarch while performing the Eid al-Fitr prayer yesterday (MAP)

Moroccan King Mohammed VI has granted Eid Al-Fitr royal pardon to 810 detainees, including prisoners of 17 Al Hoceima movement, the Ministry of Justice revealed on Wednesday.

Among the released are 12 prisoners who were arrested over extremism and terrorism charges.

Security services arrested 17 persons during their participation in protests in the Al Hoceima province over economic and social issues between 2016 and 2017.

However, Morocco’s Ministry of Justice said that the royal pardon took into account “family and human circumstances.”

Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper learned that Nasser Zefzafi (the leader of the protest movement) and Nabil Ahmajik were excluded from the pardon.

A number of local media reported that some of those pardoned had earlier received sentences up to 20 years in prison.

Up to 28 detainees had also received pardon for the remainder of their prison sentences, while around 576 detainees will have their prison sentences reduced.

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South Korea Establishes Diplomatic Ties with Syria

In this photo provided by South Korea Foreign Ministry, South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul, left, shakes hands with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani after signing a joint statement on the establishment of diplomatic ties between the countries in Damascus, Syria, Thursday, April 10, 2025. (South Korea Foreign Ministry via AP)
In this photo provided by South Korea Foreign Ministry, South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul, left, shakes hands with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani after signing a joint statement on the establishment of diplomatic ties between the countries in Damascus, Syria, Thursday, April 10, 2025. (South Korea Foreign Ministry via AP)
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South Korea Establishes Diplomatic Ties with Syria

In this photo provided by South Korea Foreign Ministry, South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul, left, shakes hands with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani after signing a joint statement on the establishment of diplomatic ties between the countries in Damascus, Syria, Thursday, April 10, 2025. (South Korea Foreign Ministry via AP)
In this photo provided by South Korea Foreign Ministry, South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul, left, shakes hands with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani after signing a joint statement on the establishment of diplomatic ties between the countries in Damascus, Syria, Thursday, April 10, 2025. (South Korea Foreign Ministry via AP)

South Korea and Syria have signed an agreement in Damascus establishing diplomatic relations, the South Korean foreign ministry said on Friday, opening new ties with a traditional ally of its rival North Korea.

The event marks a milestone for South Korea now having established diplomatic ties with all 191 UN member states and opening "a new chapter for bilateral cooperation with Syria, which had long remained distant due to its close ties with North Korea," the South Korean foreign ministry said.

South Korea established diplomatic relations with Cuba last year, another old ally of the North.

North Korea's state media ceased mentions of Syria since the overthrow of former President Bashar al-Assad in December except leader Kim Jong Un once referring to "the Middle East crisis" in passing.

A joint communique was signed by South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul and Syria's Asaad al-Shaibani on Thursday, and Cho expressed willingness to share South Korea's development experience to support Syria's reconstruction, the ministry said.

Cho later met Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, it said.