New York, July 14: Muslim students, parents, and activists are calling upon lawmakers in the state of New York to add two of their holidays to school calendars.
After failing to convince New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg of adding the two major Muslim holidays, the Lesser and Greater Bairams, to the list of official holidays in public schools, hundreds of Muslims launched a campaign hoping the state Senate and Assembly would supersede the mayor’s decision.
Bloomberg rejected the proposal citing the impracticality of adding more days off in schools while supporters argued that a total of five days wouldn’t be a hindrance to the educational process, especially that in many cases the two Muslim Bairams fall in already existing holidays or in weekends.
“Everybody would like to be recognized but the truth of the matter is we need more school days, not less,” he said.
“The city will do everything it can to protect Muslims’ rights to get together and practice their religion. We just cannot have any more school holidays.”
According to supporters, Muslims students deserve to have their holidays institutionalized like their Christian and Jewish counterparts since there are more than 100,000 of them in public schools alone, that is around 12% of the total enrollment.
The public school calendar currently has 13 religious holidays, including Jewish ones such as Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur and Christian ones such as Good Friday, Easter, and Christmas. Out of the 11 holidays observed by Muslims, none is on school calendars.
Making Muslim holidays official, campaigners argue, would also help promote equality and peaceful co-existence as well as reduce anti-Muslim sentiments that have been on the rise since the September 11 bombings in 2001.
Choice between school and religion
“There is a large group of people who feel like they have to choose between religion and school ” CAIR spokeswoman Faiza Ali
The controversy started in 2006 when the Greater Bairam holiday fell on the same day as a state-wide exam. Students were left with the choice of either missing an important exam to celebrate with their families or sitting for the exam and breaking one of the most important Muslim traditions.
“There is a large group of people who feel like they have to choose between religion and school,” said Faiza Ali, spokeswoman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR).
Bloomberg’s decision added to a series of disappointments suffered by Muslims in New York City, amongst them opposition to the construction of several mosques and the dismissal of an Arabic school principal based on neighbors’ accusations that the school breeds militants.
Parents are also frustrated because their kids ask them why they are treated differently.
“Our kids know other holidays but then they see that their holidays are not recognized. It sends a mixed message,” said Isabel Bucaram, a Muslim mother. “My daughter says to me, ‘They do it for others. Why not us?'”
For Ayman Hammous, an Egyptian physical therapist whose four children attend city schools, it is the message delivered through the acceptance or rejection of making Muslim holidays official that matters.
“Putting the holidays on the calendar will send a positive message to the Muslim community that you are welcome here,” he said.
New York City Council issued last year a resolution that calls upon the Department of Education to include the two main Muslim holidays in the public school calendar. However, Bloomberg’s consent is needed to turn the bill into a law. The resolution is supported by the Teachers’ Union and the city’s borough presidents.
The two holidays whose institutionalization campaigners demand are the most important in the entire Muslim world. The Lesser Bairam, also called Eid al-Fitr, marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan and the breaking of the 30-day fast while the Greater Bairan, called Eid al-Adha, celebrates the start of the pilgrimage ritual in Mecca and commemorates Abraham’s sacrifice.
Courtesy: Al Arabiya