The New York’s Mayor, Bill de Blasio, has announced plans to implement a policy allowing public schools to be closed for holidays on biggest Muslim festivals including Eid-ul-Adha and Eid-ul-Fitr.
The Muslim holidays when Big Apples schools will be able to shut down are Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, The Daily Caller reported.
‘Eid al-Fitr’ marks the end of Ramadan and has no set date while ‘Eid al-Adha’ celebrated in the fall and honours Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son on God’s command. As part of the holiday, Muslims who can afford it are expected to sacrifice their best domestic animal (cow, goat, camel, sheep, etc., depending on the region).
Estimates of the number of Muslims in New York City vary between 200,000 and 1,000,000.
A website called A Journey Through NYC Religions to be 600,000—roughly seven percent of the population.
Muslim groups like the New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations applauded the plans.
”The NYC Muslim community looks forward to finally having the Eid holidays recognized in our public schools.
It will be gratifying to know that Muslim children will soon no longer have to choose between honoring and celebrating their faith or missing class,” said CAIR-NY Executive Board Member Zead Ramadan in a press release .
Source: The News Tribe
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