July 14, 2010 6:10 AM
Muslims want NY school holidays
Keep up with this trend at Islamization WatchMuslims seek to add holidays on NY school calendar
NEW YORK |
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Muslim parents, students and civic groups are campaigning to add two of their religious holidays to the New York City public school calendar, pinning their hopes on state lawmakers after failing to win over Mayor Michael Bloomberg to the idea.
Putting Eid Ul-Fitr, a holiday marking the end of Ramadan, and Eid Ul-Adha, celebrating the end of the hajj, the pilgrimage to Mecca, on the list of official school holidays will help ease suspicion and reduce anti-Muslim sentiment nearly a decade after the September 11 attacks, they say.
Supporters say there are more than 100,000 Muslim students in the public schools, or about 12 percent of the enrollment.
Hundreds of supporters gathered outside City Hall on June 30 to pressure Bloomberg on the issue, saying the holidays could be recognized by adding just five days off over the next decade, since many fall on existing holidays or weekends.
Read more at Reuters
Posted in Islam issues, Public schools | Permalink
