Muslims in the United States Fight for Eid Al-Fitr as a School Holiday

JAKARTA - The Muslim community in the United States is trying to make Eid Al-Fitr a school holiday, like the religious holidays that Muslims experience elsewhere.

It all started last year, when Saamih Bashir's eldest son, Kareem, a ninth grader in the US state of Michigan, started complaining about never having school off during Eid.

Instead of being able to enjoy the festivities and time with his family, Kareem admits to being stressed out.

"He went to a school board meeting and said, we always have to fight during Eid al-Fitr, always have to choose between schoolwork and celebrating the holidays," said Bashir (47), a Muslim-American father of four, as reported by The National News, April 13.

Now Bashir and others are in the process of forming a Muslim parent council. They are also seeking to file an official petition calling on the Plymouth Canton Community school system for Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the fasting month of Ramadan, to be declared a school holiday.

A 2021 study by the Pew Research Center found there are approximately 3.85 million Muslims in the US, slightly more than 1 percent of the population. Of that number, around 1.35 million are school-age children.

Most school districts across the country have historically maintained calendars that only account for Christian holidays, especially Christmas and Easter. Several districts with large Jewish populations also observe Jewish holidays.

In 2015, New York City, where about 10 percent of the school-age population identifies as Muslim, announced it would close its public school system to mark Eid al-Adha and Eid al-Fitr.

Meanwhile, several other school districts in major cities followed suit, including Philadelphia, Baltimore, and a number of districts in Minnesota which all have sizable Muslim populations.

Now, more students and parents in smaller districts of Michigan, California, New Jersey, Connecticut, and other communities across the country are calling for Muslim holidays to be integrated into the school calendar.

"My son did his part and I did mine," said Bashir, who lives in Canton, Michigan.

"I don't give up. If one way doesn't work, I will try another. And I will keep trying until it does," he continued.

Canton, located west of Detroit City, has a population of around 100.000. For Eid, Bashir, who was born in Cairo, said around 4.000 people usually turn out for prayers and celebrations at the city's three mosques.

After the prayers, the mosque hosts a festival with food trucks, games, and rides for children.

"When students are in school districts that are closed for Eid, it is a very clear sign that the school district sees them as a worthy component of their school district community," said Amaarah DeCuir, senior lecturer in education at the American University in Washington.

"It was seen as an act of validation for their religious priorities," he continued.

According to his research, about 19 school districts have taken the step so far, he said.

But there are many challenges, DeCuir said, including a common concern among school administrators that recognizing Muslim holidays means other religious minority groups in the US could make similar demands, at a time when school children already have so many days off each year.

"There's this idea that if we close for this holiday, are we closed for all holidays? How do we make this decision?" said DeCuir.

Research results show that students perform better academically when they are in an inclusive environment that fosters their sense of belonging.

Following the 9/11 attacks, Muslims in America were subjected to hate crimes and discrimination, including at school. Under former president Donald Trump, who took office in 2016, Islamophobia has resurfaced after he made a number of inflammatory comments, including falsely claiming that Muslims in New Jersey had celebrated the 9/11 attacks.

His government also passed laws barring nationals from several Muslim-majority countries from entering the country.

Nonetheless, American Muslims have gained more positive visibility. In 2019, two Muslim women were elected to Congress, and the 2022 midterm elections saw a record number of Muslim Americans elected to office.

Bashir said he hoped his efforts would be successful soon. So far, more than 400 parents have signed a petition to make Eid a holiday.

"It means a lot to us. First of all, the children will feel like they belong, that they are just like everyone else," he hoped.