Morocco suspends the Feast of the Lamb
The last time this festival was cancelled in Morocco was in 1996 and it was for the same reason: the drought that is ravaging the country.
The news has come as a cold shower for the Spanish sheep sector, as it is one of the most important events in the Muslim calendar and represents a significant volume of live lamb exports for Spain.
The announcement was made by the Minister of Islamic Affairs, Ahmed Taoufik, who read a message from the monarch during the main news programme of the first Moroccan channel Al Oula. "Our concern to allow them to observe this religious ritual in the best conditions is closely linked to our obligation to take into account the climatic and economic challenges facing our country and which have led to a substantial decrease in the number of livestock", he noted.
The monarch stressed that holding this holiday under these conditions "is likely to harm large sections" of the population, particularly those "with limited incomes".
Mohammed VI exempts Moroccan believers from this tradition, but urges them to celebrate it by performing Aid prayers, giving alms and performing other pious works.
For his part, the Moroccan Minister of Agriculture, Ahmed el Bouari, recently said that Moroccan livestock has suffered a 38% drop in its production compared to 2016. This drop strongly impacted the red meat sector, causing a rise in prices for this product.
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