Moroccan Minister Hints at Possible Royal Pardon for Hirak Protest Leaders

"I don’t believe that Nasser Zefzafi will spend 20 years in prison," said the Minister of State in charge of Human Rights, during the "Confidences de Presse" program on Sunday evening on the second Moroccan channel, reports 2M.ma.

Answering the questions of the guests of Abdellah Tourabi, the host of the show, Mustapha Ramid showed compassion and sympathy towards the Hirak detainees, stressing that "these are not people convicted of common law crimes, but convictions of another kind. From a humanitarian point of view, I can only be in solidarity with the detainees".

While avoiding giving a personal opinion on the convictions, the minister hinted that he believed in an "imminent" outcome, and that the case could likely take a favorable turn.

"I think this case will be resolved, and the detainees should not serve the full sentences imposed on them," he said.