Morocco Suspends Two Top Officials for Defying King’s Eid Al-Adha Sacrifice Ban

The walis of the Fez-Meknes region, Mouaad Jamai, and Marrakech-Safi, Farid Chourak, have reportedly been sanctioned. They were suspended from their duties by the Ministry of the Interior for an indefinite period, due to the "Eid sacrifice performed on behalf of the population." In photos and videos, they are seen performing the ritual sacrifice. A scene that did not fail to provoke a wave of controversy, as the ritual of the Eid Al-Adha sacrifice was canceled by King Mohammed VI this year.

At the end of February, King Mohammed VI had launched an appeal, inviting Moroccans to refrain from sacrificing sheep on the occasion of Eid al-Adha this year due to the persistent drought that has been affecting the kingdom for six years and has reduced the national livestock. "Our desire to allow you to perform this religious rite in the best conditions is accompanied by the duty to take into account the climatic and economic challenges our country is facing, which have led to a sharp decline in livestock," the sovereign had indicated in a statement read by the Minister of Habous and Islamic Affairs, Ahmed Toufiq, on the Al Oula channel.

"Taking into account that Eid al-Adha is a sunna mu’akkada (strongly recommended tradition) subordinate to financial capacity, its accomplishment in these difficult circumstances would cause real harm to a large part of our people, especially those with limited incomes," King Mohammed VI had added. And to conclude: "We call on our dear people not to perform the Eid sacrifice ritual this year. And we will perform, God willing, the sacrifice on behalf of our people."