The Moroccan families usually celebrate Eid al-Adha, the feast of sacrifice, the prayer in the mosque in the morning and at night shining the meat. But in recent years, many have not been able to afford basic supplies – even less sheep costs for slaughter for one of the most holy festivals in Islam.
So when King Mohammed VI, citing “climate and economic challenges”, invited people last week not to buy sheep for slaughter for this year’s holiday in June, it brought to many Moroccans to be relieved by many Moroccans who felt torn between their faith, their tradition and exhausted finances.
“Performing in these difficult circumstances would cause some damage to the great segments of our people – especially those with limited incomes,” said King, who also said the religious leader of Morocco, in a letter read by Ahmed Toufiq, Minister of Islamic Affairs, about State Television. “I will perform the ceremony of the victim Eid, God willing, on behalf of my people,” King added.
Deep economic troubles of the country worsened over seven years droughtexacerbated periods of extreme heat that Scientists have linked to climate change. Recent rains were 53 percent lower than average in the last 30 years, According to the Ministry of Agriculture. The cumulative effects of this have reduced yield yields,, Dried water sources and helped in increasing food pricesincluding meat.
In this context, King Mohammed spoke about the challenges that the Moroccans could face with the celebration of the Eid al-Adha.
“My concern to allow you to observe this religious ritual in the best circumstances of my duty to consider the climate and economic challenges that our country faced, which led to a significant fall in the number of livestock,”, ” He said.
Eid al-Adha-I know as Eid al-Kabir, or “Big Eid” -screen is a day for most Moroccans. The family buys sheep, often days or weeks in advance, and then on the first day of slaughter and celebrating it by sharing meat with relatives, friends, neighbors and people who need it. The celebration marks the religious story of Abraham’s willingness to kill his Son by God’s commands.
“People usually save because of that,” he said Nargisse BenkabbouA chef who specializes in Moroccan cuisine, speaking from his parents’ home in Rabat, Moroccan capital.
Even individuals or families who do not have a lot of money will try to buy an animal, she said, sometimes joining with neighbors to afford it. Will make dishes like Boulfafgrilled scaffolding Wrapped lamb wrapped in fat.
Mrs. Benkabbou said the king’s call for restraint was a “national gesture of solidarity” that could save people from shame and pain this year.
“There is a large piece of people in the country that will not be able to buy lamb this year and will feel a lot of guilt,” she said. “Now, with the royal blessing, they don’t have to do it.”
It can also facilitate the pressure on Moroccan as they buy for the evening meals of the IFTAR during Ramadan, which began during the weekend, and during the Eid al-Phira, a three-day celebration marking the end of the Holy Moon of fasting.
Many are already lagging behind financially, Abdelfetah Ait El-Hamri, who owns a trade in Douar Srghni, a city near Markech. Customers owe him about $ 5,000 loans, he said – and that is only for regular foods.
About 37 percent of people between the ages of 15 and 24 were unemployed in the country last year, Official data showwhile about 23 percent of all Moroccans were unemployed or unemployed. Last year 55 percent could not afford sheep for Eid al-Adha, according to Data from the Moroccan Center for Citizenshipa non -profit organization.
The king, who has been on the throne since 1999, never called Moroccans to skip the victim, though his father, King Hassan II, Did it three times During a period of drought and difficulty.
These days, the population of sheep and cows in the country is 38 percent lower than in 2016, Ahmed Bouari, Minister of Agriculture, recently told reportersand prices have grown.
Although Morocco recently tried to increase the number of livestock for import 100,000 sheep from Australia,, According to Mustapha Baitas, a government spokesmanPeople say prices are considered exaggerated.
“It’s three times higher than the price we paid,” said Jamila El-Yacoubi (40), a domestic worker living in the FES.
She said one sheep for Eid cost about 7000 dirham, about $ 700 – her annual meat budget. She just couldn’t afford it.
From the king’s call to restraint around Eid, she said: “I was sad because it was an important religious tradition. But at the same time, I was happy because we cannot afford to pay such prices.”
Abdelmouno Rouadgi, 29, a sheep seller who has already bought 150 sheep and ordered another 150 for Eid, said he stopped those orders after 300.
“We can’t do anything,” he said. “We can only be patient.”
