ADC and CAIR-NJ Ask East Brunswick School Board for Muslim Holiday

Washington, D.C. | adc.org | December 16, 2014 – The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) and the New Jersey chapter for the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NJ) today called on East Brunswick’s Board of Education to approve a petition to include the Muslim holidays of Eid ul-Fitr and Eid ul-Adha on the school calendar. 

On Thursday, December 18, the board will vote to decide if the Muslim holidays will be placed on the 2015-2016 school calendar. ADC urges as many people as possible to attend the meeting and have their voices heard in an effective manner. 

Eid ul-Fitr is projected to be on July 18 and Eid ul-Adha is projected to be on September 23, which will coincidentally be the same day as the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur. Eid ul-Fitr marks the end of the month long fast called Ramadan, and Eid ul-Adha acknowledges the Muslim holy pilgrimage in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.

Many New Jersey districts have already recognized Muslim holidays on their school calendar including Paterson, Atlantic City, and South Brunswick. South Brunswick schools started in 2010-2011 with a Muslim student population of 20 percent. There are over 100 Mosques in NJ, with a Muslim population close to half a million. “With so many Muslim students in NJ, school districts are moving forward to acknowledge the importance of diversity and inclusion when it comes to people of all faiths” said CAIR-NJ Civil Rights Director Khurrum Ali. “I see this as a ‘no-brainer’ and confident the school board with do the right thing.”

Media Relations Specialist Amani Al-Khatahtbeh advised the East Brunswick Board of Education on the importance of fairness and equality in their decision to recognize religious holidays in public schools. “It is the responsibility of the Board of Education to turn down the proposed exclusionary calendar and create a more productive decision making process where the entire community may be represented” said Ms. Al-Khatahtbeh.

Since its inception, ADC has dedicated itself to defending civil rights and will continue to do so. If you have any questions or concerns regarding this matter, please contact ADC at 202-244-2990.