His Majesty King Abdullah on Monday directed the government to release citizens detained in connection with last month’s, at times violent, protests over rising fuel prices.

Government Spokesperson and Minister of Culture Samih Maaytah said in a press statement that “freedoms of expression and assembly are guaranteed under the Constitution as basic civil rights and pillars of reform in general, particularly political reform.”

Maaytah added that the decision excludes 13 detainees facing charges of criminal conspiracy, vandalism and illegal assembly.