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Morocco, a predominantly Muslim country in Africa, will celebrate Eid al-Adha tomorrow, Saturday, June 7, 2025. However, this year, animal sacrifices have been banned across the country following a royal decree issued by King Mohammed VI. The decision comes in response to a severe drought and natural disasters that have caused a significant shortage of livestock in the country.
For the past few years, Morocco has been grappling with extreme drought and various natural calamities, severely impacting its agriculture and livestock sectors. The ongoing crisis has led to a sharp decline in the number of domestic animals. To protect the remaining livestock, the royal decree prohibiting animal sacrifices was issued on Wednesday. This is not the first time such a measure has been enforced in Morocco. The late King Hassan II, father of the current king, had issued similar directives three times in the past due to war, drought, and stringent conditions imposed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The IMF had prohibited the Moroccan government from providing subsidies on food products, prompting the ban on sacrifices.
King Mohammed VI has announced that he will perform the sacrifice on behalf of all Moroccans. However, it remains to be seen how strictly the public will adhere to the royal decree. Authorities have adopted stringent measures to enforce the ban, with security forces conducting raids at livestock markets. A viral video circulating on social media shows law enforcement officials confiscating sheep purchased for sacrifice from people’s homes.
AI/MR
