As Tunisia faces soaring meat prices and a shrinking livestock supply, speculation arose over whether the country would suspend the Eid al-Adha sacrifice, following Morocco’s lead. However, Tunisia’s top religious authority has dismissed the idea, emphasizing that the ritual remains a sacred tradition.
Religious Ruling Upholds Sacrifice
The debate gained momentum after the National Chamber of Butchers sought guidance from Diwan al-Iftaa on whether the annual sacrifice should be canceled to alleviate financial strain and protect the nation’s dwindling herds.
Tunisia’s Grand Mufti, Sheikh Hichem Ben Mahmoud, swiftly issued a fatwa on Tuesday, affirming that while the sacrifice is not obligatory, it remains one of “God’s sacred rites” and should not be abandoned.
Eid al-Adha, set to take place in early June, is a significant religious observance where Muslims commemorate Prophet Ibrahim’s devotion to God by slaughtering livestock. Traditionally, Tunisian families gather at bustling markets to select their sacrificial sheep, a practice symbolizing faith and generosity.
Economic Hardships and Drought Intensify Crisis
In recent years, the affordability of the ritual has become a growing concern. Sheep prices in 2024 saw a dramatic increase, ranging from $250 to $650—up 50% from the previous year—while the country’s minimum wage remains under $200.
With Eid approaching, prices have surged again, reaching up to 38.2 Tunisian dinars ($12.50) per kilogram. In response, the government has ramped up imports of chilled meat, including Romanian lamb and French beef, to ease the burden on consumers.
Compounding the crisis, Tunisia is experiencing its sixth consecutive year of drought, severely impacting agriculture and forcing many farmers to downsize or abandon livestock breeding. Rising feed costs and a limited animal supply have further driven up prices, intensifying calls to reconsider the Eid sacrifice.
North Africa’s Divided Response
While Tunisia maintains its stance, other North African nations have taken different approaches.
Morocco remains the only country in the region to encourage citizens to forgo the ritual this year, with King Mohammed VI making the rare decision to safeguard the nation’s fragile livestock population. His late father, King Hassan II, had taken similar measures during times of war, drought, and economic hardship.
Meanwhile, Algeria, facing similar challenges, has opted to stabilize the market by importing one million sheep rather than canceling the tradition.
In Tunisia, some had proposed that President Kais Saied perform a single sacrifice on behalf of the nation, but the idea failed to gain traction.
For now, Tunisia’s leadership remains firm—despite economic hardship and environmental strain, the Eid al-Adha sacrifice will continue as an enduring religious practice.