The Maryland office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), America’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today applauded the Frederick County Public Schools’ (FCPS) Board of Education’s unanimous decision to close schools for students on the Eid holiday when it lands on a school day.
[NOTE: Eid ul-Fitr (EED-al-FITTER) marks the end of the month-long fast of Ramadan, is the first of the two major Muslim holidays. The second holiday, Eid ul-Adha (EED-al-ODD-ha), comes near the end of the Hajj, or pilgrimage to Mecca.]
SEE: FCPS students will have off for both Eid holidays in ’25-’26 school year
“Eid equality is a basic accommodation that helps make students’ educational experiences less stressful and more inclusive and respectful,” said CAIR’s Maryland Director Zainab Chaudry. “The FCPS school board’s vote now means that hundreds of families in the county will no longer have to make the difficult decision of whether to send their children to school on Eid holidays or have them be marked absent and miss classroom instruction.”
“This milestone signals to our community that our children are part of the fabrics of Frederick County,” said Islamic Society of Frederick President Khalil Elshazly. “We thank the Frederick County Public Schools Board of Education for voting for inclusion and supporting our families.”
“We as a community are thrilled for the Board’s decision,” said FCPS Student Malak Kamel. “They were very cooperative and considerate of our concerns with Eid not being recognized on the FCPS calendar, and we are so glad that the future of Muslim students in the county is that we can now have these 2 days off!”
“Advocating for having Eid holiday off on the FCPS calendar brought not only our community together but also brought other religious leaders and officials to share the same vision as us,” said FCPS Parent Basant al-Kadry. “The decision made by the Board of Education on Feb 28th 2024 is a reflection of the diversity amongst FCPS as well as reflecting the growing identity of our county.”
The historic move comes after months of advocacy and efforts led by local students, parents and leaders. Schools currently close for students on the Eid holiday when it lands on a school day in Baltimore, Howard and Montgomery Counties.
The civil rights group congratulates the Frederick County Muslim community on this historic victory, and especially acknowledges the leadership of students and parents who worked with elected officials and interfaith partners to tirelessly advocate on this issue.
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
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Contact: CAIR Maryland Director Zainab Chaudry, zchaudry@cair.com, 410-971-6062