Ramadan in Morocco
To fast or not to fast
Some harassed libertarians say you should be free not to observe Ramadan
Aug 12th 2010 | RABAT
THE law in several countries, mostly in the Persian Gulf but also in the Maghreb and parts of Indonesia, provides for stiffer penalties for those who break fast in public, ranging from fines to flogging. Take article 222 of Morocco’s penal code, dating from the era of the French protectorate, which states that “a person commonly known to be Muslim who violates the fast in a public place during Ramadan, without having one of the justifications allowed by Islam [such as travelling or sickness], shall be punished by one to six months in prison,” as well as a fine.
Last Ramadan, a small group of young Moroccans calling itself the Alternative Movement for Individual Freedoms decided to hold a picnic near Casablanca, the country’s commercial capital, to protest against this law. They argue that article 222 clashes with Morocco’s international obligations and its constitution, which guarantee freedom of conscience. They were arrested before getting a chance to take a bite.
This picnic protest was treated as a national emergency. A council of Islamic scholars said it was an insult to God. King Muhammad VI’s political adviser persuaded all parties, including ones that routinely denounce Islamists, to issue condemnations for the sake of national unity. The activists were held and interrogated for several days, though ultimately not fined or taken to court. Police said they had to be protected from popular anger. Some of the protesters’ families and friends refused to speak to them for months.
“We respect religion, but the problem is that people think public space is only for the majority who are believers,” says Najib Chaouki, one of the campaigners. He is not, for now, planning to repeat last year’s picnic but has relaunched his campaign for the right not to fast in public spaces. He has featured in reports on al Arabiya and al Jazeera, the Arab world’s most popular satellite news channels. His website and Facebook group have had hundreds of comments.
Some support him but most call him an apostate or lament that he and his friends do not tackle issues such as poverty. He has had several death threats. Only a handful of Moroccans, such as the editors of the country’s first gay magazine (published for the time being in Spain), have backed the non-fasters.
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