More than 326,881 people in Morocco have signed a petition asking the government to stop using GMT+1, the country’s permanent daylight saving time. Tens of thousands are still joining every day.
The petition says the time change is hurting people’s daily lives. It points out that students have trouble focusing and learning properly. It also highlights health problems, like poor sleep, constant tiredness, stress, headaches, anxiety, and long-term risks such as weaker immunity and heart issues.
Morocco started using GMT+1 all year in 2018, saying it would save energy and make business easier with Europe. Before that, the country only moved the clocks forward in summer.
Many people say the policy is causing serious problems. In winter, mornings are dark, forcing people to wake up before their bodies are ready. Teenagers are hit hardest because they naturally sleep later at night. This mismatch leads to tiredness, irritability, lower school performance, and even mental health issues. Dark mornings also make commuting harder and can be dangerous.
A study by the African Center for Strategic and Digital Studies (CAESD) found that the promised energy and economic benefits don’t match the reality for Moroccans. The back-and-forth switch during Ramadan adds extra stress, creating what critics call a “double shock” twice a year.
Now that the petition has passed the legal signature threshold, it will go through an official process. Once verified, it can be presented to Parliament.
