Moroccan King Urges People to Avoid Sheep Sacrifice on Eid al-Adha
Rabat, Morocco – 1 March – (www.deccanlive.com): The King of Morocco has appealed to the public to avoid sacrificing sheep on Eid al-Adha this year. He cited severe drought, which has significantly affected livestock populations, and the rising cost of meat as reasons for this request.
Across the Muslim world, millions of sheep, goats, and other livestock are sacrificed every year during Eid al-Adha, an important Islamic holiday that falls in June this year.
However, Morocco is experiencing its seventh consecutive year of drought, leading to a 38% decline in livestock numbers over the past 12 months.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, rainfall this year has been 53% lower than the average of the past 30 years.
On Wednesday, King Mohammed VI addressed the nation on national television, stating, “Our country is facing climatic and economic challenges, leading to a significant decline in livestock populations.” The speech was delivered by the Ministry of Religious Affairs.
While acknowledging the importance of Eid celebrations, the King urged people to “avoid performing the sacrificial ritual.”
Eid al-Adha is observed in remembrance of the Prophet Ibrahim’s (Abraham’s) willingness to sacrifice his son, Ismail (Ishmael), as an act of obedience to God.
This is not the first time such an appeal has been made. King Hassan II, Mohammed VI’s father, made a similar request in 1966 during a period of severe drought.
The decline in livestock numbers has also led to a rise in meat prices, increasing the financial burden on low-income families, where the minimum monthly wage is just €290.
