Catalan Muslims Urged to Celebrate Eid al-Adha, Defying Moroccan King’s Advice

"We call on Muslims in Catalonia to renew this religious practice [of sacrifice], with commitment and discipline, respecting the legal and health regulations in force in the country, as an integral part of their religious identity," stated the Federation of the Islamic Council of Catalonia and the Union of Islamic Communities in a communiqué published on Monday.

According to El Confidencial, the Union of Islamic Communities is not among the main organizations representing Muslims in Catalonia. The autonomous community has 694,000 Muslims, according to the latest demographic study by the Andalusian Observatory. 80% of them are Moroccan or of Moroccan origin. The majority (432,000) reside in Barcelona.

This statement goes against King Mohammed VI’s message published on February 26, in which he invited Moroccans not to celebrate Eid al-Adha this year due to the high prices of sheep; a price increase caused by persistent drought that has reduced the national herd. Even though the royal message does not expressly include Moroccans residing abroad (MRE), particularly in Spain, several voices had called on members of the Moroccan diaspora to follow this royal appeal.