RABAT, Morocco (AP) — Morocco’s King Mohammed VI on Monday pardoned a group of journalists who were charged with sex crimes and espionage in prosecutions widely condemned by press freedom advocates as retaliation against critical reporting.

Omar Radi, Taoufik Bouachrine and Soulaimane Raissouni were among 2,278 people who received pardons this week, according to Morocco's Ministry of Justice. The pardons were announced as Morocco celebrates Throne Day, marking the anniversary of when Mohammed VI ascended to the throne.

For more than four years, the journalists have become emblematic of Morocco's aggressive efforts to stifle criticism from journalists and human rights activists. Civil liberties advocates, the European Parliament and the U.S. Department of States at various points condemned the prosecutions as politically motivated.