Jakarta, Indonesia Sentinel — As Muslims around the world prepare to celebrate Eid al-Adha, Morocco has made a rare and significant move for canceling the traditional animal sacrifice associated with the holiday. The decision, announced under royal directive, marks the first time during King Mohammed VI’s reign that such a measure has been taken.
Eid al-Adha, one of the holiest days in Islam, is typically observed with the ritual slaughter of sheep, cow or other livestock. But this year’s celebration, set for June 7 in Morocco, will observed differently.
In a message conveyed by Minister of Islamic Affairs Ahmed Toufiq, King Mohammed VI urged citizens not to conduct animal sacrifices this year. The king reportedly made the request months earlier, in February 2025, citing extraordinary circumstances.
“We have always ensured that our faithful can fulfill their religious duties and traditions in accordance with the blessings God has bestowed upon Morocco in upholding Islamic values,” the king stated, as reported by Turkiye Today on Thursday, June 5. “However, we are currently facing exceptional conditions that compel us to temporarily revise certain practices, including the ritual of sacrifice during Eid al-Adha.”
The royal decree prohibits families from slaughtering sheep this year. Instead, the monarch will offer a symbolic sacrifice on behalf of the Moroccan people.
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Despite the cancellation of animal sacrifices, people in Morocco still gathered in large numbers for Eid al-Adha prayers on Saturday morning, demonstrating the enduring spiritual significance of the holiday.
The move aims to protect the country’s dwindling livestock population and support the sustainability of the agricultural sector, which has been severely impacted by years of drought and declining natural resources.
Morocco’s sheep population has plummeted by 38% over the past seven years, driving prices to around $600 per head in 2024.
However, this is not the first time the Moroccan monarchy has intervened in Eid traditions. The late King Hassan II, father of the current monarch, suspended Eid sacrifices on three occasions during his rule due to war, prolonged drought, and economic austerity imposed by the International Monetary Fund.
(Raidi/Agung)
