Gambiaj.com – (RABAT, Morocco) – Moroccan King Mohammed VI has called on citizens to forgo the traditional sheep sacrifice during this year’s Eid al-Adha, citing a significant decline in livestock due to the country’s prolonged drought. The directive, delivered in a speech by the Minister of Religious Affairs on Wednesday, February 26, marks the first such appeal since 1996.

“Our country is facing climatic and economic challenges that have resulted in a substantial decline in livestock,” the king stated in his message, which was broadcast on public television. While acknowledging the deep religious and social significance of Eid, he urged Moroccans to refrain from the ritual sacrifice this year, emphasizing that “its performance in these difficult conditions is likely to harm” many citizens, especially those with limited incomes.

Severe Drought and Rising Costs

Morocco is currently experiencing its worst drought since the early 1980s, with seven consecutive years of below-average rainfall. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, the country has recorded a 53% rainfall deficit compared to the 30-year average, leading to a 38% drop in livestock numbers over the past year alone.

The dwindling supply of sheep has driven meat prices to unprecedented levels. In Casablanca, a kilogram of red meat now sells for around 11 to 12 euros, a steep cost for many households, given the country’s minimum wage of approximately 290 euros per month. While the Moroccan government has subsidized meat importers, it has refrained from direct price controls, drawing criticism from citizens struggling to afford essential food items.

A Precedent from 1996

Eid al-Adha, one of the most significant holidays in Morocco and across the Muslim world, falls roughly two months after Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan. Though widely observed, the king reminded the nation that the Eid sacrifice is not one of the five pillars of Islam but rather a “sunnah“—a recommended but non-obligatory religious practice.

This is not the first time a Moroccan monarch has intervened under similar circumstances. In 1996, King Hassan II issued a comparable request to forego the sacrifice due to economic and environmental hardships.

By urging restraint this year, King Mohammed VI is attempting to balance religious tradition with the stark realities of a worsening climate crisis and economic strain. The appeal is expected to spark both compliance and debate, as Moroccans navigate the intersection of faith and financial hardship.