'Not in Morocco': German beer festival stirs controversy

A planned beer festival in Morocco has stirred controversy in the Muslim-majority country.

The German Chamber of Commerce (AHK) wants to organise the beer festival - known as Oktoberfest - in the Casablanca suburb of Bouskoura on 28 October, which will go on for 16 days.

"Experience the unique atmosphere of the Oktoberfest under tents with more than 300 seats in Bouskoura," read a Twitter announcement by AHK.

💡 [EVENT] SAVE THE DATE // #Oktoberfest de l'AHK Maroc

Le 28 octobre prochain, l'AHK Maroc organise la 1ère édition de l’#Oktoberfest Casablanca !

- Achat de #tickets : https://t.co/EBN27jQ7zd
- Devenir #SPONSOR ? Contactez Mme Marion Fennane : Marion.fennane@marokko.ahk.de pic.twitter.com/VR7IW5Rrs0

— AHK Marokko (@AhkMarokko) July 19, 2022

Moroccan authorities had previously banned the festival for the first time in 2015, for what they said was the lack of respect for legal procedures.

It is not yet clear if it will definitely go ahead this year.

The announcement received many negative reactions, with many saying such an event was a "bad idea" and "should never happen in Morocco," as it goes against the country’s religious and cultural values.

While alcohol is not illegal in the North African nation, the population is considered to still be largely religious.

اخر مكاين اخي المواطن قالك بلي المغرب سمح بتنظيم "مهرجان البيرة" وهو مهرجان كبير خاص بشاربي الخمر و هذا المهرجان غادي يتقام بمدينة بوسكورة 🚨⚠️
فين اخويا غادين فين؟؟؟؟ pic.twitter.com/h8hqzzcfRc

— الصحرواي المشاغب 🇲🇦👑 (@Mareana27395306) July 21, 2022

لا لتمييع المجتمع المغربي المسلم

مهرجان البيرة في #المغرب خطوة فاجرة ومبارزة وقحة لشرع الله عز وجل، في بلد شكل ثغرة من ثغور الإسلام على مر الأزمنة، إنها ردة لا تمثل المجتمع المغربي المسلم، نرفضها ونطالب بمخاكمة من نظمها ومن رخص لها . pic.twitter.com/WlzEdcvQBV

— أحمد الرافعي الحمليلي (@Alhamlili_Rafai) July 22, 2022

المغرب في السنتين الاخيرة من التطبيع الى الغلاء الفاحش للأسعار و الآن مع مهرجان البيرة يا ترى ما هي الخطوة العفنة المقبلة.... أنا أتوقع الاعتراف بحقوق أصحاب قوس قزح 🌈

— سميرة الريفية (@hananeacademy11) July 23, 2022

Others however saw it in a positive light, saying it could help the country’s struggling economy open up to new markets and encourage more tourists to visit.

Morocco is heavily reliant on tourism, which is directly responsible for tens of thousands of jobs and billions contributed to the economy, deeply impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic and numerous lockdowns.

The globally renowned festival in Germany attracts thousands of visitors every year and is one of the oldest, starting in 1810.