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Rabat – A viral petition in support of abolishing GMT+1, or the daylight saving system, is garnering more support from tens of thousands of signatories in Morocco.
Over 278,500 people have signed the petition to date. Thousands of signatories are adding their names at this time of writing.
The petition, titled “We Want a Return to Regular Timing” and on the Change.org platform, is attracting a growing chorus on social media.
“Adopting the additional daylight-saving hour in Morocco poses a daily challenge for citizens and affects their quality of life,” the description of the petition said.
For the petition, the GMT+1 change leads to continuous disruptions in the biological clock, impacting not only academic and educational professional performance but also everyone’s mental and physical health.
“The need to realign the clock with natural time is not just a personal preference but a vital necessity for a balanced and stable lifestyle,” the petition argued.
Morocco returned to GMT+1 on the night of Saturday through Sunday last week after the end of Ramadan, the month in which Muslims fast from dawn to sunset.
The government removes daylight saving time every year as it affects fasting hours.
Many citizens continue to open up about the hardship and challenges they endure due to the GMT+1, which the government adopted year-round as part of a draft decree in 2018.
In the past, Morocco used to add 60 minutes to the standard time in Morocco during the summer season only.
Recently, an online video campaign by content creator Mouad Amentague (@mgamentag) is reviving debate across the country as it urges Moroccans to break the silence in the face of challenges they face, including the high cost of living and daylight saving time.
The video specifically depicts a clock signifying the protest reverting back to GMT+1, which many Moroccans are against.
Several reports indicated that the petition now meets more than the legal threshold for being transported to the parliament for debate and for a motion process, which requires 25,000 valid signatures.
