Moroccan Families Hold Secret Rural Weddings, Defying COVID-19 Restrictions

These clandestine ceremonies, organized without respecting the restrictions of the state of health emergency, are the source of several clusters and deaths due to the coronavirus.

A family from Rabat narrowly avoided the worst after the contamination of one of its daughters during these clandestine weddings, writes the newspaper Assabah. The father, also infected, died from Covid-19. As for the mother, also infected, she was saved at the last minute after several days in intensive care.

These dramatic cases have unfortunately not discouraged some families who continue to take this risk, the daily recalls. To avoid denunciations from their neighbors and unexpected raids by the security forces, they limit their guests to close relatives and family members. Better yet, they organize their celebrations in the afternoon, whereas normally weddings are celebrated in the evening.

In the countryside, the business is appreciated by the inhabitants who take the opportunity to make a small fortune by renting out part of their farm. According to a caterer, the idea comes from his industry, which preferred to compensate for the losses recorded due to the coronavirus in this way.