فاس نيوز ميديا جريدة الكترونية جهوية تعنى بشؤون و أخبار جهة فاس مكناس – متجددة على مدار الساعة
Social media platforms in Morocco have recently seen intense circulation of posts claiming that fines are being imposed on those who slaughter Eid al-Adha sacrifices. This has sparked a broad public debate around this longstanding religious ritual, especially amid reports of special committees monitoring violators.
In this context, legal and religious experts have categorically denied these allegations, affirming that they lack any legal or religious basis. They explained in media statements that the recent royal call urging restraint or abstention from slaughtering sacrifices did not abolish the ritual. Rather, it was an ethical directive reflecting the difficult economic and social conditions the country is facing, and it does not entail any legal penalties for non-compliance.
Lawyer and President of the Moroccan Center for Legal Awareness, Chaib Lamsahal, described these claims as “legal misinformation,” pointing out that Moroccan law does not punish violations of a royal directive unless it is formalized into a legal text published in the official gazette. He added that the decision to abstain from slaughtering remains a personal choice, which can be socially interpreted from various perspectives, such as a desire to show off or cling to traditions that may not align with the current national context.
Meanwhile, Moroccan culture researcher Khalid Touzani viewed the King’s call to refrain from slaughtering sacrifices as reflecting deep-rooted values of solidarity and national unity around leadership during difficult times. He emphasized that Moroccans have always responded positively to royal directives, especially when issued in circumstances requiring the protection of the public interest without compromising the essence of religious rituals and their societal significance.
This debate arises at a time when authorities seek to clarify their official stance, reaffirming respect for citizens’ freedom to perform their religious rites, while calling on everyone to act with awareness and responsibility amid the challenges facing the country.
