(COLUMBUS, OH – 7/8/22) – The Ohio Chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Ohio) today celebrated a decision by the Hilliard City Schools Board of Education to recognize the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr. The board voted unanimously Thursday evening to change the school calendar to include a day off for Eid al-Fitr when it falls on a school day.
“As a Muslim community, this is an important recognition, especially since we worked hard as students to achieve this change,” said Saja Mu’Ammar, a rising freshman at Hilliard Bradley High School. “We are finally able to celebrate our holidays without having to worry about anything but practicing our faith and enjoying time off with family and friends.”
Eid al-Fitr (“feast of fast breaking”) marks the end of Ramadan – a holy month of fasting, worship, and good deeds – and occurs on a different date each year as it is based on the lunar calendar. Typical festivities for Eid al-Fitr include congregational prayer, gatherings with family and friends, and community events.
The school board’s decision comes after Muslim students led a campaign advocating for the calendar changes by petitioning the district with more than 1,600 community signatures in favor of including the holiday. After students presented the petition and their request to the board in April, the district conducted research and made the recommendation to amend the calendars through 2026. Time off for Eid al-Adha (“feast of sacrifice”) – the second Eid honoring the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice his son – will be considered for calendars after 2026, when that holiday begins occurring during the school year.
“We applaud these students for their advocacy work and the Hilliard Board of Education for recognizing this important holiday for Muslims,” said CAIR-Ohio Acting Executive Director Amina Barhumi. “Throughout the year, CAIR-Ohio responds to requests from Muslim students about Eid excused absences and other Islamic observances. These accommodations are not just an important aspect of inclusive environments; rather, they are a necessity to practicing our faith free from discrimination. By including Eid al-Fitr as a holiday, the district also sends an important message that all students, staff, and families are valued.”
CAIR-Ohio encourages other school districts to include Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha in their calendars and offers resources to students, parents, and schools regarding inclusive environments and religious accommodations:
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CAIR-Ohio’s Educator’s Guide to Islamic Religious Practices: https://www.cair-ohio.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/CAIR-Ohio-Educators-Guide-2022.pdf
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CAIR-Ohio Religious Accommodation Resources: https://www.cair-ohio.com/accommodation-resources/
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CAIR-Ohio Ramadan Resources: https://www.cair-ohio.com/ramadanresources/
CAIR is America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. CAIR-Ohio’s mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims. CAIR-Ohio has offices in Columbus, Cleveland, and Cincinnati.
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CONTACT: CAIR-Ohio Acting Executive Director Amina Barhumi, abarhumi@cair.com, 614-763-6557
