Why pardoning prisoners says a lot about a society

I always marvel at the month of Ramadan, not that I have ever spent 30 days fasting or reflecting in the way Muslims do throughout this spiritual and symbolic time. But I have spent different times of the year in the Middle East and North Africa during this special period and witnessed firsthand the sense of communal prayer, devotion and togetherness, especially at the breaking of the fast-during iftar. It’s a unique time.

So, another year has passed, and while Ramadan ended almost a month ago, with it came the pardoning of some 1,533 prisoners in Morocco, by King Mohammed VI, on the Muslim Eid al-Fitr holiday. In Morocco, the king can pardon prisoners convicted of various crimes on national or religious days in accordance with Article 58 of the Constitution. I find this a remarkable act of forgiveness, in the sense that it acknowledges that people can make mistakes and learn from them, offering a second chance in life, potentially strengthening relationships in society and fostering a greater trust.

A statement from the Justice Ministry said 31 of those pardoned had been convicted of extremism and terrorism-related offenses. They were reportedly granted royal clemency after renouncing extremism, expressing their commitment to national principles and revising their ideological views. This reminded me of a documentary film I had done for PBS, just over 15 years ago, on a center in Riyadh that helped returning prisoners from Guantanamo Bay and even those who had recently been fighting in Afghanistan, to undergo a period of rehabilitation. The Saudis were determined to find a way to help counter extremism with a softer policy, rather than simply incarceration. It involved long sessions on the interpretation of Islam, as well as practical things when they left, such as a job and a car. The recidivism rate is around 12% which is not perfect but reflective of a willingness to take a risk, allowing those to return into society and try again.

One of the 31 prisoners recently released by King Mohammed VI was Abdelkader Belliraj, a Belgian Moroccan convicted of leading a radical Islamist network and sentenced to life in prison. In an interview with the Arab Weekly about his case, Islamic affairs researcher Muhammad Abdul-Wahhab Rafiqi, himself a former detainee on terrorism charges in Morocco, said “the agencies working on these cases have extensive experience, given such cases are related to the country’s security and stability, and the authorities cannot afford to make mistakes in sensitive cases such as these.” He added that “after 15 cohorts of the ‘Reconciliation’ program, not a single case of recidivism has been recorded, which indicates great precision in the selection of candidates.”

Morocco launched the reconciliation program in May 2016, as a way for detainees and prison staff, to enhance the safety and security of inmates, including “humanizing detention conditions” and “preparing detainees for social and economic integration.” A statement from the Mohammed VI Foundation for the Reintegration of Prisoners emphasized this policy, as the program aims to “advance the rehabilitation and reintegration of former inmates and former prisoners into society. The foundation will complement this program with follow-up care after release, especially for vulnerable groups.”

Pardoning prisoners, caring for them later and giving people a second chance in this life, is something I think we can all learn from.

*Kieran Baker is an Emmy award winning journalist who has started up various networks including Al Jazeera English, Bloomberg TV Africa and TRT World.