Moroccan King Performs Eid Prayer, Pardons 761 People

King Mohammed VI. MAP
King Mohammed VI. MAP
TT

Moroccan King Performs Eid Prayer, Pardons 761 People

King Mohammed VI. MAP
King Mohammed VI. MAP

King Mohammed VI accompanied by Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan and Prince Moulay Rachid, performed on Tuesday the Eid Al Adha prayer.

Given the preventative health measures, the King performed the prayer without giving a speech.

After the prayer, the King performed the sacrifice ritual. The Imam sacrificed the second sheep.

On this occasion, King Mohammed VI granted pardons to 761 people, the Moroccan Justice Ministry said in a statement.

While only 658 of the pardoned individuals are in prison, all 761 have been convicted by Moroccan courts for violating laws within the country, said a royal press statement.

Of those imprisoned, the King ordered the immediate cancellation of the sentences of 639 detainees. He also granted clemency to 14 prisoners serving life sentences. These inmates now have reduced sentences as a result of the Royal directive.



Schools Closed in Beirut after Deadly Israeli Strike

Firefighters douse flames at the site of an Israeli strike on a building in the Lebanese capital - AFP
Firefighters douse flames at the site of an Israeli strike on a building in the Lebanese capital - AFP
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Schools Closed in Beirut after Deadly Israeli Strike

Firefighters douse flames at the site of an Israeli strike on a building in the Lebanese capital - AFP
Firefighters douse flames at the site of an Israeli strike on a building in the Lebanese capital - AFP

Schools in Beirut were closed on Monday after Israeli strikes on the Lebanese capital killed six people including Hezbollah's spokesman, the latest in a string of top militant targets slain in the war.

Israel escalated its bombardment of Hezbollah strongholds in late September, vowing to secure its northern border with Lebanon to allow Israelis displaced by cross-border fire to return home.

Sunday's strikes hit densely populated districts of central Beirut that had so far been spared the violence engulfing other areas of Lebanon.

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The strikes prompted the education ministry to shut schools and higher education institutions in the Beirut area for two days.

Children and young people around Lebanon have been heavily impacted by the war, which has seen schools around the country turned into shelters for the displaced.

Lebanese authorities say more than 3,480 people have been killed since October last year, with most casualties recorded since September.

Israel says 48 soldiers have been killed fighting Hezbollah, AFP reported.

Another strike hit a busy shopping district of Beirut, sparking a huge blaze that engulfed part of a building and several shops nearby.

Lebanon's National News Agency said the fire had largely been extinguished by Monday morning, noting it had caused diesel fuel tanks to explode.

"In a quarter of an hour our whole life's work was lost," said Shukri Fuad, who owned a shop destroyed in the strike.

Ayman Darwish worked at an electronics shop that was hit.

"Everyone knows us, everyone knows this area is a civilian area, no one is armed here," he said.

One of those killed in the strike, Darwish said, was the son of the owner of the store where he worked.

"The martyr Mahmud used to come after working hours, in the evenings and even on Sundays, to deal with client requests," he said.

The NNA reported new strikes early Monday on locations around south Lebanon, long a stronghold of Hezbollah.