French Mosques Call for Boycott of Sheep Sacrifice Ahead of Eid Al-Adha

Morocco World

2 days ago

Doha – Facing limited abattoir access and rising prices, Muslim leaders in southern France urge alternatives for the upcoming festival, as similar measures take root in Morocco and Spanish enclaves.
Several mosques in France's Gard department have called on Muslims to abstain from purchasing sheep for traditional sacrifice during the upcoming Eid Al-Adha celebration, expected next week.
In a statement issued on May 15, leaders of the Lumière et Piété Mosque in Nîmes cited three main concerns: 'the lack of official facilities for ritual slaughter in compliant conditions,' 'excessive price increases for sheep,' and 'targeted administrative pressures and systematic obstacles hindering freedom of worship.'
The prefecture has authorized only one temporary abattoir for the entire Muslim community in the department this year. This facility, located at Ferme de Vestric in Vestric-et-Candiac, will operate under the supervision of the Departmental Directorate for Population Protection (DDPP), whose agents will inspect each animal.
'In February, an animal costs €90, but during Eid, strangely, it exceeds €300? It's nonsense. I prefer to buy my meat from the butcher. It will be better that way,' one worshipper told a local radio station.
The mosque leaders reminded the faithful that slaughtering animals outside approved facilities constitutes a criminal offense punishable by six months imprisonment and a €15,000 fine. The same penalties apply for complicity.
Instead, the religious leaders recommend 'legally and religiously valid alternatives, such as sending donations for sacrifice in countries where the needy truly need it,' according to France 3 Occitanie and Gard Lozère.
Read also: Thursday is 1st Day of Dhu Al Hijjah, Morocco to Celebrate Eid Al Adha on June
The French Council of Muslim Faith (CFCM) has announced that Eid Al-Adha 1446H will be celebrated in France on Friday, June 6.
This decision by French Muslim leaders follows a similar pattern seen in 2014, when the community also called for abstention from the traditional sacrifice due to inadequate facilities and regulatory challenges.
Meanwhile, Morocco faces a similar situation but for different reasons. In February, King Mohammed VI called for citizens to abstain from sacrifice this year due to the country's alarming decline in national livestock, particularly sheep, which has fallen by 38% since 2016.
The crisis began with the COVID-19 pandemic and was worsened by several years of drought. The number of female breeding sheep has dropped to 8.7 million in 2024, compared to 11 million in 2016, threatening the renewal of livestock populations.
The royal decision has also found support in the Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla. According to El Confidencial's report published in early April, the Association of Halal Consumers in Ceuta, led by Abdelmalik Mohamed Amar, has backed the King's decision.
They argued that 'it doesn't make much sense to follow guidelines from a country 6,000 kilometers away when we have another just around the corner.'
Similarly, the Muslim Community of Melilla issued a statement asserting that 'the majority of Melilla's Muslims share the vision of the Commander of the Faithful and consider the measure sensible.' Tags: Eid Al AdhaMuslims in France