School Closings a Milestone for Muslims

By: MONIQUE EL-FAIZY and MICHELE COMANDINI
Staff Writers, The Bergen Record, Saturday, May 22, 1999

Excerpts:

"A decision by Paterson school district officials to recognize the two major Islamic holidays is the first of its kind in the country, community leaders say, and reflects the growing influence of Muslims in America.

"Paterson's schools will close next year for the two most important Muslim holidays -- Eid al-Fitr on Jan. 7, which marks the end of Ramadan, and Eid al-Adha on March 17, which commemorates the prophet Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son Ismael at God's command...

"...The district recognizes Jewish and Christian religious holidays as well as Thanksgiving, Memorial Day, and Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday. District officials said Eid al-Fitr was included as a holiday this school
year, but the holiday fell on Jan. 18, which was also the observance of Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday.

"The second Muslim holiday was added last week after the board was approached by parents, students, and members of the Arab and Muslim communities.

"New Jersey law allows students to be excused from school during religious holidays recognized by the state. Eid al-Fitr is one of those holidays, so students are allowed to take the day off in other districts.

"Ibrahim Hooper, spokesman for the Washington, D.C.-based Council on American-Islamic Relations, said that has been a struggle in other states.

"'Our main goal in this area has been to have Muslim students allowed to go to Eid without being marked absent,' he said...

"...'I think that Muslims are finally coming on people's radar screens, both of the general public and officials, and these kinds of things are beginning to be addressed,' Hooper said..."

News Release by the Council of American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)