Morocco: Rage Against the Sandwich Continues  · Global Voices
Hisham Almiraat

On Sunday, September 13, a group of young Moroccans gathered in front of Mohammedia train station. They decided they are going to eat in public: a picnic that in other circumstances wouldn't have attracted much attention. Only this time, it is Ramadan — the holy Muslim month, during which believers are supposed to observe fasting from dawn until dusk. Eating in public during Ramadan is often seen as a disregardful and disrespectful act and might attract the anger of the public. Moreover it is punishable by imprisonment to up to six months and heavy fines. As a result those who took part in the protest, were intercepted by members of the police who proceeded to interrogate and arrest some of them. A few days later, a wave of arrests of members of the group was reported across Moroccan cities.
The meet-up was an answer to an appeal launched by a group that first appeared on Facebook calling itself MALI? (for Alternative Movement for Individual Liberties and which acronym means literally “What about me?”). Those taking part in the event were reportedly trying to protest for the abrogation of article 222 of the Moroccan Penal Code which states that “any person known for his/her affiliation with Islam, who ostensibly breaks the fast in public during Ramadan is punishable by one to six months imprisonment and a fine.”
The story sparked a passionate, often heated and at times offensive and polarizing debate in the Moroccan blogosphere and on social networks. Whilst the majority seems to be rejecting the non-observants’ action, some have raised the question of freedom of conscience in a Muslim society.
On Facebook a group of solidarity [Fr] with the imprisoned non-observants was created. The preamble reads:
La répression policière que subissent ces militants s'accompagne de menaces de mort quotidiennes de la part de barbus-fascistes qui eux bizzarement ne sont pas poursuivis. Ce laxisme n'est autre qu'une façon d'encourager ces personnes à commetre des actes haineux. Il n'y a qu'à lire la déclaration de la très gouvernementale agence de presse marocaine pour s'en rendre compte.
Le but de ce groupe est de soutenir les militants de MALI, et de réaffirmer notre attachement à la liberté de culte, il ne s'agit pas d'inciter les gens à ne pas jeuner, chacun fait ce qu'il veut.
Chaouki Najib, founder of a Facebook group [Ar, Fr] called “Those fasting and those not fasting, we are all Moroccans” sent a letter to members of his group, denouncing the threats against MALI protesters:
Naoufel  [Ar] wonders whether this story doesn't reveal an aspect of double standard within the Moroccan society:
أخيرا، أنا لا أدافع عن مالي..أنا مع حرية التعبير، من حق أي واحد أن يفعل ما شاء..أن أصوم أو لا أصوم أمر يخصني وحدي لكني في المقابل سأحترم صيام أمي و أسرتي و المجتمع..باختصار أريد أن أقول..أنا أتضامن مع مالي و أيضا مع من جرحت أحاسيسه..لكني بالمناسبة لا اعترف بأي ثوابت..
This sentiment of moral hypocrisy is echoed by Jillian C. York on her blog. She writes:
What concerns me is this: There is also a great portion of society that drinks, and does other things that are haram, but are condemning the protesters for disrespecting Islam.  This attitude brings to light something I noticed in Morocco: That Ramadan seems to make everyone an expert on Islam, and a great Muslim.  Many of those who might ignore religion throughout the year will at the very least fast (or give the illusion of fasting, even to their own families), often taking it further, lecturing their friends who don’t pray or chastising them for not making it to the mosque.  Lest you think I’m exaggerating, I’ve witnessed this myself numerous times.  In August, I’d be clubbing in Marrakesh with Moroccan friends, drinking and dancing; as soon as Ramadan started, I was the black sheep.
Many, like Amar Al Khalfi [Fr], who blogs on Nebrass Ash'abab, perceived  a conspiracy in the action of the non fasting protesters:
Across the blogosphere a flurry of attacks on MALI members ranging from insults, to heinous comments can be seen. Among them is this excerpt by H'med Lehmani [Ar] on regional online news website Oujda City:
P.S.: Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, to which Morocco is signatory, states that…
Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.