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On March 20, the Moroccan authorities extended the strict lockdown measures it implemented by an additional month to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus. The announcement meant that Moroccans would be spending the month of Ramadan, which started on March 25, indoors while observing social distancing.
To several other Moroccans, confined with their parents and families, that meant that they would be forced to fake fasting to prevent uneasy situations during these already difficult times.
An uncomfortable situation
«I must admit, it is a difficult period», said Hamza* who is forced to pretend he fasts when he is around his parents. «When the lockdown started I went back to my parents' place to quarantine with them, but I did not expect that it would go all the way to May 20», said the young man who used to live alone in Casablanca.
It is difficult for Hamza to adapt to the new situation, especially as he had not had to undergo a similar month of Ramadan in years. «I can’t focus on my work, I feel disturbed and annoyed», he complained, adding : «I have not fasted for five years, for personal convictions but living away from my parents for the last few years was making Ramadan a month like any other».
Hamza tries to indulge himself whenever the opportunity arises. At his parents' place, he finds himself «stealing from the fridge» to eat or drink water. As he is a smoker, lighting a cigarette during the day is «impossible». «I wait until Ftour like anyone else», he concluded.
Abdelmalik*, 28, is another Casablanca resident who has to adapt to the current situation after he found himself confined with his parents who don’t know about his religious inclinations. «I am forced to fast for the whole day in front my family», he told Yabiladi.
«The problem is not hunger but coffee», said Abdelmalik who has to deal with daily headaches because of his caffeine addiction. Working from home, the man rules out the idea of voicing his choices in front of his parents.
«I am not afraid of them, but I abandon the idea whenever I think of how hard it would be to convince them that I am not a Muslim», Abdelmalik said. «If they knew, they would change their behavior towards me, even though they are not that religious», he regretted.
Tolerated choices
While some prefer to lay low during this month, others have found ways out. Samad*, a 30-year-old Rabat-native, is spending the lockdown with his mother. The latter has been showing compassion and was understanding of his choices.
«My mother, who is pious, often asks me if I want her to prepare lunch for me during Ramadan», he said. Although his mother tolerates his convictions, he said that he «is currently fasting for health reasons and not religious ones», admitting that his situation is better than that of others like him in Morocco.
Indeed, Saad*, 30, had difficulties convincing his family of his choices. «Not observing the fast of Ramadan has created big problems with my family», he said. «My parents tried for a while to convince me to do this. Now they don't care and neither do I. So I eat, I drink and I smoke and they know it, without telling me anything», he explained.
Akin to Saad's family, Samir* and his brother, originally from Rabat, have benefitted from the flexibility of their family since the beginning of the confinement.
«It was difficult for me and my brother to go outside the house to smoke a cigarette. So we started to invade the terrace», he said. «At the beginning, we were afraid that our parents would learn that we are both smokers. I think they have come to understand it, because my father throws us each time, with a wink a 'remember to close the door to the terrace after you have finished, each evening before you go to sleep'», he concluded.
*Names were changed.
