Feature: Tunisian families struggle to afford Eid al-Adha sacrifices amid economic hardship

The Star

3 days ago

TUNIS, May 31 (Xinhua) -- As Tunisians prepare for Eid al-Adha next week, many families face an uncomfortable choice between religious tradition and financial reality, with the soaring cost of sacrificial animals putting the Islamic holiday beyond reach for many households.
The Feast of Sacrifice, one of Islam's most important observances set to begin June 6, traditionally involves families slaughtering a sheep or cow over three days. But Tunisia's struggling economy has made the ritual increasingly unaffordable as inflation, drought, and supply constraints drive livestock prices sharply higher.
In Mourouj, a southern district of Tunis, Lotfi Slama faces the same dilemma confronting families across the North African nation. The 54-year-old father of three says sheep now cost between 1,200 and 1,700 dinars (around 400-550 U.S. dollars), placing them well beyond his middle-class budget.
"That's simply unaffordable for a typical middle-class family," Slama said, blaming delayed government action in opening official livestock markets for constraining supply and inflating prices.
Retired teacher Brahim Haffoudhi, 64, has set his own threshold. "Unless prices fall below 1,000 dinars, I won't be buying this year," he said. "The price per kilo hasn't come down enough to make this accessible."
Both men stressed that Islamic teachings do not require the sacrifice from those unable to afford it, a religious flexibility that provides some comfort amid the economic squeeze.
Badr Sayari, 37, another customer at the market, plans to mark the holiday more modestly. "The Sunnah of sacrificing a sheep is a noble act, but if your resources are limited, buying a modest amount of meat to mark the occasion is entirely valid and spiritually sufficient," he said.
The price surge stems largely from a prolonged drought that has devastated pastures and driven up feed costs, according to economists and agricultural experts. Livestock breeders struggling with higher production costs have passed the burden to consumers.
The Tunisian Mixed Professional Association for Red Meat and Dairy Products set official prices at 21.9 dinars (around 7.43 dollars) per live kilogram for sacrificial sheep, though market prices often exceed that benchmark.
The Ministry of Social Affairs estimates sacrificial animals will cost 920-1,800 dinars this year -- representing three to seven times the monthly income of the country's poorest families. With monthly social aid at roughly 260 dinars and minimum wages ranging from 414 to 493 dinars, the economics leave little room for traditional celebration.
"This is a time of spiritual reflection," Sayari said. "But it's also a reminder of how many are quietly struggling."