UPDATE (October 16, 2019): King Mohammed VI of Morocco has pardoned Hajar Raissouni today, as Al Jazeera reports. The news was given via the justice ministry who said that the King's involvement was "an act of compassion and mercy." In addition to Rasissouni, her fiance, her doctor and two medical professionals were also pardoned.

In the court proceedings, Raissouni and her fiance, Rifaat al-Amin, said they had already been wed in ceremony, but not legally. The reporting states that the fact that Raissouni and her soon-to-be husband had wanted to begin their family as a married couple—which is to say legally—had an impact on the decision.

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Following protests outside her trial, a Moroccan court in Rabat has sentenced journalist Hajar Raissouni, 28, to one year in prison for having an abortion and sex outside of marriage. Raissouni, however, claims she had no such abortion and that this sentence is retaliation for articles she has written criticizing the government of the North African country. The events have left many dismayed and feeling that this is part of a political strategy to minimize women's rights and stifle free speech.