![Spanish Representatives Oppose Morocco’s Joint Bid with Spain and Portugal Spain’ Prime Minister proposed a trio bid with Morocco and Portugal to host the 2030 World Cup; but the idea does not appear to be popular with Spanish politicians. The representatives of two Spanish political parties, the People’s Party and the Citizens-Party, have said they do not want Spain to submit a joint candidacy with Portugal and Morocco for the 2030 World Cup. In a meeting organized by the National Federation of Sports Facilities Entrepreneurs (FNEID) in Madrid, the People’s party representative, Vicente Azpitarte dismissively spoke about Spain joining a trio with Morocco and Portugal to organize the World Cup. Azpitarte specifically wondered whether Spain would get any advantages from teaming up with the two countries, t Spanish news outlet Iusport reported on Wednesday. The Citizens-Party representative, Roberto Nunez, agreed with Azpitarte. “We do not intend to organize a World Cup with other countries. Spain has more than enough capacity [to organize the World Cup], it is a country that has already organized a World Cup, and we do not understand that proposal,” Nunez said. The adviser of United Podemos, Oscar Penas, stated that he does not clearly see why “the priority is to organize a World Cup or an Olympiad at this time.” Morocco and Spain cooperate on a number of issues, ranging from security and migration to trade and education. On November 18, the Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, arrived in Morocco for a first visit since his election to premiership. During his visit, Sanchez proposed to both Head of Government Saad Eddine El Othmani and King Mohammed VI a joint bid for the 2030 World Cup. “We are launching a joint message, which is that this will be a bid between two continents. The King of Morocco is receptive and we’re going to work on it with Portugal. We are very excited about it,” Sanchez said.](https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/ABL-Launches-in-Casablanca-Becoming-Africa’s-First-Aircraft-Leaser-180x135.jpeg "ABL Launches in Casablanca, Becoming Africa’s First Aircraft Leaser")
By Rania Tazi
By Rania Tazi
Rabat – Moroccan scholar, Ahmed Raissouni, said that he is in favor of decriminalizing breaking one’s fast during Ramadan.
A video shows the former leader of the Movement for Unity and Reform speaking at a conference organized by the Center for Research and Islamic Legislation and Ethics in Qatar. Raissouni refers to Article 222 of the Moroccan penal code, which punishes those who do not observe fasting during the month of Ramadan. Under this law, those who publicly break their fast risk spending between one and six months of prison and being fined.
The Moroccan scholar said he is against arresting people who break the fast in broad daylight during Ramadan. He went on to add that some people might be forced to break the fast because they are sick or travelling.
“The penal code should not intervene in Ramadan fast. Even when a person is fasting, he may break the fast because he is sick or travelling. Why should we arrest him, interrogate him and prosecute him”? he said.
Public acts of breaking one’s fast are becoming commonplace, especially in recent years. On June 15 two men were arrested in Zagora for drinking water publicly due to the scorching temperature.
Three days later, two men were arrested in Essaouira for eating and smoking on the beach. More recently, a man was arrested in Rabat for smoking a cigarette at his workplace after a human resources employee notified the police of his act.
Although Ahmed Raissouni favors legalizing breaking the fast during Ramadan, it is not for the same reasons as other activists, who fight for their right to not fast. For him, fasting or not fasting should not involve law enforcement or judicial involvement, but is more a question of individual freedoms and clarity of conscience.
