Muslims in Baltimore County Are Fighting for Holy Days to Be Recognized
About 50 people attended Baltimore County Public Schools' policy review committee hearing Monday to speak out, abc2 reported.
"I'm not asking for much, just asking for maybe equality," said Farah Ibrahim.
She says right now Muslim students are forced to either miss school or miss the two Islamic holy days Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. Since Christians and Jews get holidays off, this group is pushing for their holidays to be recognized so Muslim families can celebrate and pray together.
"I hear from my community members and the children that they have felt very outrightly discriminated,” Muhammad Jameel from the Islamic Society of Baltimore said.
The Board's Policy Committee has been studying the issue for months. Monday’s public hearing was the first time folks got to share their thoughts and concerns. The panel will take the testimony, along with their research, and make recommendations about the school calendar to the County Board of Education.
"I believe our committee is comprised of good listeners and we will make what I am hopeful will be meaningful recommendations," said Policy Review Committee Chair Romaine Williams.
She says there are no other public hearings on the issue planned. At this point it's not clear when the committee will make their calendar recommendations to the Board, but it could mean possible changes as soon as the 2016-2017 school year.
