A young man was placed in pre-trial detention in Rabat after his arrest for public breaking of the fast during Ramadan. He is also being prosecuted for drug use and threats made against the police.
A sharp rise in fruit and vegetable prices is hitting the Casablanca-Settat region this Ramadan month. This price surge, driven by increased demand, is weighing heavily on the purchasing power of households with modest incomes.
Major Belgian retailers such as Delhaize, Colruyt and Lidl are extensively adapting their shelves for Ramadan 2026. This commercial strategy responds to growing local demand, driven by a significant increase in sales of halal and traditional products.
Since the start of the holy month on 19 February 2026, Belgium’s retail giants have been showcasing “ethnic” aisles experiencing explosive growth . Lidl, Colruyt and Carrefour are no longer limiting themselves to a few dates, but are now adapting their entire strategy to a new sociological reality.
Consumer protection associations in Morocco describe the price increases observed at the start of Ramadan as “unjustified high prices,” attributing them mainly to buying frenzy and citizens’ lack of rationality.
The Moroccan date market comes alive ahead of Ramadan, pitting a local harvest of 160,000 tonnes against diverse international competition. Consumers now find themselves torn between loyalty to oasis-grown produce and managing a tight budget.
Israel is allegedly resorting to labeling schemes to circumvent Muslim consumers’ boycott in Europe. Dates from West Bank settlements are reportedly being illegally marketed under false origins, including Morocco, to conceal where they come from.
Moroccan authorities lifted the kerosene restriction measures this Monday. The arrival of weather-delayed ships replenished stocks, ending the request for airlines to arrive with full tanks.
In the Oriental region, the sharp rise in the prices of Algerian Deglet Nour dates has sparked heated controversy. Faced with this inflation, voices are calling for a boycott in favor of Morocco’s national production.
Moroccan justice authorities ordered on Wednesday the withdrawal of the passport and a travel ban against Abderrahim Bendou. The MP and businessman is being prosecuted while at liberty over suspicions of marketing dairy products unfit for consumption.
The price of dates is soaring in Morocco as Ramadan approaches, due to new customs restrictions aimed at protecting local production from dumping. These control measures, coupled with allegations of fraud on the origin of the products, are weighing on the purchasing power of consumers.
As the month of Ramadan approaches, the rise in the price of dates on Moroccan stalls is raising many questions among consumers.