{{The Moroccan king has promised an investigation into the royal pardoning of a Spanish man convicted of raping 11 children aged between four and 15.}}<\/p>\n
The paedophile was among 48 jailed Spaniards freed by King Mohammed VI, sparking angry protests and violent clashes with police in Rabat on Friday.<\/p>\n
A royal statement said the king had been unaware of the gravity of the Spaniard’s crimes.<\/p>\n
Fresh protests are expected in Casablanca and Rabat next week.<\/p>\n
Daniel Galvan Vina, believed to be in his sixties, was sentenced to 30 years in prison in September 2011.<\/p>\n
However, last week he was freed by royal decree from a jail in Kenitra, north of the capital. He is reported to have left the country.<\/p>\n
Dozens of people were injured in violent confrontations between hundreds of protesters and police outside parliament in the Moroccan capital on Friday.<\/p>\n
Demonstrations were also reported in the cities of Kenitra, Tangier and Tetouan, as well as outside the Moroccan embassy in Paris.<\/p>\n
“The king was never informed – in any way or at any time – of the seriousness of the abject crimes of which the person concerned was convicted,” a statement released by the royal palace said on Sunday.<\/p>\n
“It is clear that the sovereign would never have consented” to his release, given the “monstrous crimes” committed, the statement concluded.<\/p>\n
It is normal procedure for the king to pardon prisoners on special occasions, such as Throne Day, last Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Morocco’s Justice Ministry said on Friday the pardons were based on national interests and “friendly relations” with Spain.<\/p>\n
A number of foreign nationals have recently been detained in Morocco under suspicion of paedophilia.<\/p>\n
In June, a British man was arrested in the port town of Tetouan over allegations of raping a six-year-old girl. In May, a Casablanca court sentenced a French man to 12 years in jail on paedophilia charges.<\/p>\n
Thousands of Moroccans marched in Casablanca earlier this year to condemn paedophilia and violence against children in the north African country.<\/p>\n
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