Morocco's king chairs allegiance ceremony at Rabat palace

Morocco's King Mohamed VI (C) during the allegiance ceremony Rabat – Redouane Mabchour Morocco's King Mohamed VI on Saturday chaired the annual allegiance ceremony at the Mechouar square of the Rabat royal palace .
This year's event marked the 14th anniversary of the sovereign's accession to the throne, following the death of his father King Hassan II in 1999.
The purpose of this traditional ceremony is to ask notables, MPs, senior state officials and army officers to renew their pledge of allegiance by bending before the king three times in a near-kneeling position. Everyone is dressed in white traditional Moroccan attire, a sign of obedience and loyalty.
Human rights activists and some leftist politicians called for the ceremony to be cancelled, claiming that the traditional rituals are outdated. Loyalists said that they are part of the Moroccan tradition that should be upheld and protected.
On Saturday, the king was accompanied by his oldest son Prince Moulay Hassan, and his younger brother Prince Moulay Rachid.
The ceremony was attended by Moroccan Prime Minister Abdelilah Benkirane, several of his top ministers, president of the House of Representatives Karim Ghallab, senior advisers of the Moroccan king, members of the ministerial authority, heads of the constitutional councils, ?managers of royal courts, senior officers of the higher command of the royal armed forces and military and civil figures.?
The loyalty and allegiance ceremony which is usually held in Morocco on the second day of the ?anniversary of the throne feast, July 30 every year, was delayed this year due to the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan.
The traditional event was first held in Morocco in 1934, during the reign of the late King ?Mohamed V, who sought allegiance from his people amid threats from the Spanish and French colonial authorities.