CAIR-MD Seeks Equality for Muslim School Holidays - YouTube CAIRtv

Muslim students in Montgomery County are being urged to stay home on Tuesday, October 15 and instead celebrate Eid al-Adha, one of Islam's holiest days. It's all part of a push to make Eid al-Adha, which marks the Hajj to Mecca, and Eid Al-Fitr, celebrating the end of Ramadan, full-fledged school holidays. The argument is that public schools close around Christian and Jewish holidays like Christmas, Easter, but that is not the case for Islamic holy days. Muslims say it is religious inequality and it is not fair. Zainab Chaudry is the Vice President of the Maryland Chapter of the Council on Islamic-American relations and a member of the Equality for Eid Coalition. She and other members believe it is time to add Islamic holy days to the school calendar and stop making Muslims choose between school and their faith. "We feel like the rights of American Muslims are being violated," she says. Montgomery County Public Schools says it does not close for religious reasons, but will consider it if a holiday causes a significant amount of absenteeism. Chaudry and others are calling on Muslims to stay home from school on Tuesday, the day Eid al-Adha falls on the calendar this year. They are also asking for supporters to sign a petition urging the change. The hope is that the mass absences and pressure will demonstrate the impact of the holiday. "This is not an issue of the community seeking special rights," says Chaudry. "They are basically just asking for equal rights." CAIR-MD, E4E Coalition to Seek Equality for Muslim School Holidays http://www.cair.com/press-center/pres...

CAIR-MD Seeks Equality for Muslim School Holidays - YouTube
28 Likes	28 Dislikes
2,697 views views	9,682 followers
Non-profits & Activism	Upload TimePublished on 15 Oct 2013