Morocco punishes breaking the Ramadan fast with imprisonment.
Every year, hundreds of Moroccans end up in prison for eating, drinking or smoking in public during Ramadan.
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During the holy month of Ramadan, Muslims must abstain from eating, drinking and smoking from dawn until sunset. This practice is one of the five pillars of Islam.
However, in Morocco, this religious precept is also an article of the penal code. Article 222 It imposes prison sentences of one to six months on those who break the fast in public. without a justification recognised by Islam (such as having your period or being pregnant).
Social and legal pressure to observe Ramadan in Morocco
This regulation affects all Moroccans., except for the Jewish community. Even citizens with dual nationality are subject to this law if they have Arab or Berber surnames. This includes those who have lived their entire lives in countries where Ramadan is not compulsory.
In Morocco it is common for waiters to refuse to serve Muslim customers to avoid trouble. The population itself enforces the fast. Not only do the authorities supervise, but citizens also observe and can report anyone who eats, drinks or smokes in public during fasting hours.
In some cases, social surveillance can lead to tense situations, such as insults, threats or even assaults against those who break their fast in public.
The sandwich versus Ramadan: a Spanish plot
In September 2009, the Moroccan journalist Zineb El Rhazoui He organised a public picnic via Facebook to defy the law.. The authorities reacted decisively and turned the case into a media event.
The regime suppressed the demonstration, arrested the participants and accused them of being part of a plot orchestrated by Spain because there were Spanish journalists covering the event.
Once again, Morocco demonstrated its intolerance of any form of protest and its capacity to limit individual freedom.
The pressure shifts abroad.
When Moroccans emigrate and find themselves in gated communities or neighbourhoods with a strong Muslim migrant presence, they feel the same social surveillance as in their country of origin. Even though they live in countries with individual freedoms, group pressure still exists.
This insistence can manifest itself in various ways: disapproving looks, critical comments or even social rejection by family and friends if someone does not observe the fast.
However, in Western countries, individual freedom allows many people to escape this control. In workplaces, schools and universities, Ramadan is not a compulsory rule. This makes it easier for those who do not wish to observe it to do so more discreetly.
The Taboo of Individual Freedom in Islam
The debate on individual and religious freedom in Morocco remains taboo, as in other Muslim societies. Meanwhile, many Moroccans who are not Muslim live in hiding, concealing their way of life to avoid reprisals.
This conflict between religion, law and human rights remains an uncomfortable reality that Morocco is unwilling to confront. Abroad, many Moroccans who do not observe Ramadan find greater freedom, but within their communities social surveillance still persists, forcing them to maintain appearances.
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