The king calls not to sacrifice the sheep of Eid because of the drought

The king of Morocco Mohammed VI, who has the status of “Commander of believers” Muslims in his country, called on the population not to sacrifice the sheep during the Eid Festival which will take place in early June, due to a decrease in the livestock linked to the drought which has increased prices.

“Our country faces climatic and economic challenges which have resulted in substantial regression of the livestock”noted the king in a speech read by the Minister of Religious Affairs Wednesday, February 26 on public television.

While saying that he is aware of the importance of this celebration on the religious, family and social levels, the king called his “People to refrain from accomplishing the rite of the sacrifice of Eid this year”for the first time since 1996.

According to the king, “Its fulfillment under these difficult conditions is likely to harm” to a large part of the inhabitants of the country, “Particularly those with limited income”.

Decrease of 38 % of the livestock

Morocco faces its seventh consecutive year of drought which led to a decrease in the livestock of 38 % over a year, due in particular to a rainfall deficit of 53 % compared to the average of the last 30 years, according to the Ministry of Agriculture. This is the worst drought since the early 1980s.

The decrease in the number of livestock heads has caused the prices of red meat, the government subsidizing importers but not directly this product, which attracted strong criticism.

The kilo of red meat is sold around 11 or 12 € in Casablanca which represents a huge budget for the poorest, facing a minimum wage of around € 290 monthly.

Eid Al Adha, a very popular celebration in Morocco as in everyone Arab, follows about two months the Eid-el-Fitr which marks the end of the month of Ramadan fast, planned to start at the end of next week until the surroundings of March 30.

In his message, the king whose status of “Commander of believers” gives him the exclusive authority on religious affairs, recalled that the feast of sacrifice is not one of the five pillars of Islam but “Un Sounna”set of recognized standards and traditions.

King Hassan II had made a similar decision for the same reasons in 1996.