The California chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CA) recently released a resource guide to support Muslim employees, students, and community members in navigating workplace and school accommodations during the month of Ramadan.
SEE: How To Request a Religious Accommodation for Ramadan and Eid
Ramadan is a sacred month for Muslims around the world, characterized by abstention from food and water from dawn to dusk, as well as increased worship, nightly congregational prayers, and other devotional acts. This year, Ramadan will begin on or around Friday, Feb. 28.
Every year, CAIR-LA provides resources, including downloadable letter templates, to assist Muslim employees and students in securing religious accommodations at work and school, including adjustments to schedules, access to prayer spaces, and time off to celebrate Eid al-Fitr, one of Islam’s most important holidays that occurs at the end of Ramadan.
CAIR-LA also sent letters to California school administrators and correctional facilities providing education and advice on preparing for Ramadan. CAIR-CA also works with jails and prisons across the state to provide guidance regarding the needs, religious beliefs, and rights to which Muslim incarcerees are entitled.
In a statement, CAIR-LA Civil Rights Managing Attorney Dina Chehata, Esq., said:
“Religious accommodations are not a privilege—they are a legal right. As we approach Ramadan, we must ensure that Muslim students and employees have the tools they need to advocate for their ability to fast, pray, and observe their faith without fear of discrimination or hostility. Resources such as these empower individuals to confidently request religious accommodations while reminding institutions of their legal obligations under federal and state law.”
Two CAIR-CA-sponsored bills that protect the rights of American Muslim students during the month of Ramadan were recently signed into law.
AB 2377, authored by Assemblymember Luz Rivas, ensures that K-12 students observing religious fasting are given appropriate accommodation during physical education (P.E.) classes by offering them a modified exercise regimen or providing them with academic assignments related to the course.
AB 1503, authored by Assemblymember Alex Lee, grants students K-12 students a full day of excused absence time per semester to observe religious holidays, such as Eid, without academic penalty.
CAIR-CA is a chapter of CAIR, America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
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CONTACT: CAIR-LA Digital Communications Manager Enjy El-Kadi, (714) 851-4851 or eelkadi@cair.com; CAIR-LA Senior Communications Coordinator Madi Hameed, mmorse-hameed@cair.com