Article 222 of the penal code of Morocco’s laws states that breaking the fast in public is punishable by up to six months in prison. Morocco’s state religion is Islam.
The police in Morocco have arrested customers at a café in the capital of Casablanca on suspicion of failing to observe the customary Islamic mandatory fast. An act that is penalized by Moroccan law.
The news website Hespress on Wednesday reported that: “Customers and employees of the café, located in central Casablanca, were arrested amid a large public gathering of citizens.”
Chouf Tv, a web television, broadcasted a video showing police officers rounding young girls and boys from the café to a police vehicle.
It is reported that many Moroccans were welcoming of the police intervention out of respect for the faith of Moroccans.
Believers are expected to abstain from drinking, eating, and having sex from dawn until sunset during the holy month of Ramadan.
A handful of activists have previously defended their right not to fast, despite the cases of arrests for going contrary to law.