Morocco to celebrate Eid Al-Adha on 31 July
Morocco will celebrate Eid al-Adha or the celebration of the Sacrifice on July 31st, in a context marked by the health crisis caused by the coronavirus, which has already left 17,015 infected and at least 269 dead in the country. In this context, Moroccan Prime Minister Saadeddine Othmani called on the population to "fully and rigorously" comply with all preventive measures taken by the health authorities during the summer period and the celebration of Eid al-Adha.
This festival commemorates a passage in the Koran that reflects the obedience to Allah by Ibrahim (Abraham, in the Catholic religion). Saadeddine Othmani urged citizens during a joint press conference with Health Minister Khalid Ait Taleb to limit their travel during this holiday, one of the most important for the Muslim community, and not to travel except in cases of extreme need. The Moroccan executive also asked the population not to lower their guard and to continue to wear masks and to disinfect their hands continuously.
According to the head of the Moroccan executive, the decision to relax the confinement was one of the most complex tasks and was the result of a series of discussions and consultations with the parties involved, the Moroccan news agency MAP reported on Monday. "To take this decision it was necessary to reconcile the preservation of health and safety of citizens with the gradual return to normal life," he added.
The Moroccan Minister of Health stressed that, although the epidemiological situation in the Kingdom is under control, the pandemic has not disappeared, so he called for "more prudence and respect for preventive measures". "In the absence of a vaccine and scientific data on the seasonality of the virus, the behaviour of individuals remains the most effective means of combating the virus," he stressed before reporting that the number of tests carried out in Morocco amounts to 20,000 per day.
During his speech, the Moroccan Minister of Health explained that the increase in cases is mainly caused by the lack of control of vulnerable people and warned that the average age of infected people has decreased, now standing below 40 years.
The Alaoui Prime Minister also announced that the Kingdom is moving to phase three of the nationwide confinement, so some measures implemented to stop the spread of this pathogen have been relaxed. As of Monday, Moroccan society will be allowed to hold social gatherings of up to twenty people, as well as the occupation of public transport at 75 percent of its capacity or the holding of sporting events behind closed doors. In addition, hotels are also allowed to open - although with limited number of people in the common areas - and cultural centers, museums or libraries.
On the occasion of Eid al-Adha, the Ministries of the Interior and of Agriculture have reinforced their vigilance to ensure the smooth running of this festival. According to the Ministry of the Interior, the local authorities will issue authorisations to professional meat cutters and those who will carry out the ritual of slaughter and will require them to have the appropriate tools and products to ensure compliance with the preventive measures in force. "There is a risk of closing markets that do not respect health instructions," said the Minister of Agriculture, in statements that have been collected by the digital Le 360.
The Ministry of Islamic Affairs has confirmed the date of this holiday. Wednesday 22 July is the first day of the sacred month of Dhou al-Hijja, so the Aid Al-Ahda celebration will take place on Friday 31 July, according to the information available to Digital Bladi. The also known as the feast of the lamb is celebrated just 70 days after the end of Ramadan. During this day this animal is sacrificed and divided into three parts: one for the family itself, another for friends or relatives and the last one for people without resources.
