To coincide with the holy month of Ramadan, Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has pardoned over 1,000 convicts.
His administration said in a statement that an additional 70 pro-democracy Hirak demonstrators who are awaiting prosecution for public order violations will be granted mercy.
Zaki Hannache, a rights activist who was jailed in February for allegedly encouraging terrorist attacks and spreading fake news, was among the convicts released.
Starting in early 2019, the Hirak protests shook Algeria‘s major cities, compelling long-time President Abdelaziz Bouteflika to resign months later.
Even after Tebboune took office, protests continued. The Hirak rejected him, seeing him as a continuation of the old political structure.
