Rabat - Moroccans and Muslims believe that during Ramadan demons are chained to let people practice their prayers, contemplate their supplications to God, and indulge in charitable work. The irony is that during Ramadan, people avoid social interactions for fear of having arguments, while criminal acts surge and street fights proliferate.
When I visited the university hospital in Fez to check on a family member on the second day of Ramadan, I was horrified by the number of victims I saw who came to the hospital because of injuries involving stones, sticks, knifes and machetes. I saw groups of young men occupying the emergency’s front gate to brag about their friend’s war stories swearing in the process, and a father threatening to kill his son’s aggressor.
The most shocking scene I witnessed however, was the three people who stormed into the hospital, frightening all the hospital staff in the process, to take revenge on a patient who had reportedly attacked one of their brothers. This patient, who was being treated for severe wounds to his hand, managed to escape with the help of the hospital’s security guard.
“Scenes like this one occur every day in the hospital during Ramadan,” a security guard who works in the hospital said.
How can these acts promote the image of our country and encourage others to understand our culture if we taint it? Indeed there is a huge gap between what Ramadan should be about and our deeds.
Ramadan is a holy month where Muslims are expected to be tolerant towards each other, ask God for repentance and promote a peaceful and positive image of Islam. It is disappointing, shameful that foreigners who come to visit Morocco witness such barbarous behavior during this holy month, potentially brand our country as uncivilized.
Satan is innocent from these practices or: Satan does not commit these practices. As some Moroccans say when they are enraged: “Satan must be human as I have never seen Satan.”
This is not to doubt religious beliefs about the existence of demons. Rather it should be a call to control ourselves and be responsible about what we do. We should not only respect our values, but also transform them to acts. No more of this schizophrenia.
Edited by Miriam El Ofir
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