As Morocco prepares to return to GMT+1, citizens are intensifying calls for an end to daylight saving time (DST), appealing directly to King Mohammed VI for intervention.
Many argue that the government’s insistence on maintaining the additional hour contradicts growing public and civil society opposition.
Social media users have voiced their frustration, with some urging the king to “save” them from DST. Civil organizations, including the Moroccan Alliance for Youth Civil Coalition, have also joined the outcry, condemning the measure as an “ongoing assault” on citizens’ well-being, particularly outside the summer months.
The organization called on authorities to either adopt standard time year-round or limit DST to the summer season. It also urged the Economic, Social, and Environmental Council, the Ministry of Health, and the National Human Rights Council to conduct a comprehensive study on DST’s health and psychological effects. Additionally, it called on Parliament to assess the policy’s overall impact.
Ilham Belfelahi, the coalition’s secretary-general, noted that public demands for abolishing DST have persisted for years. She criticized the government’s refusal to engage in a meaningful dialogue on the issue, arguing that its justification—boosting investment and energy savings—remains unproven.
Abdelilah Khoudri, president of the Moroccan Center for Human Rights, echoed these concerns, describing the government’s inability to revoke DST as a sign of weakness. He emphasized that the policy has widespread negative effects, particularly on students and workers, and urged a royal intervention to settle the debate.
Since Morocco permanently adopted GMT+1 in 2018, the decision has remained controversial. While officials cite economic benefits, critics argue that the measure disrupts biological rhythms, increases stress, and lacks clear economic justification. Calls for reconsideration are growing louder, especially as European nations roll back year-round DST due to its adverse effects.
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