Moroccan King Mohammed VI granted pardon to 262 prisoners on the anniversary of the Revolution for Independence celebrated on Tuesday.

A statement by the Ministry of Justice said 217 inmates had their prison terms reduced.

It added that 45 other prisoners were granted freedom.

The Revolution for Independence, also known as the Revolution of the King and the People, commemorates the day when Morocco rejected France’s decision to exile King Mohammed V to Corsica in 1953 and replace him with cousin Mohamed Ben Arafa.