(FOX40.COM) — During Ramadan, one state lawmaker wants California to recognize two major Muslim holidays.
Asm. Matt Haney, D-San Francisco, last week announced a bill that would formally recognize Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha as state holidays.
While other major religions have their major holidays recognized by the state — holidays like Christmas, Easter and Hanukkah —Haney said two of the most important holidays for Muslims go unacknowledged.
“California is home to one of the largest and most vibrant Muslim communities in the country, and their traditions deserve recognition and respect,” he said in a news release. “No student should have to choose between celebrating one of the holiest days of their faith and showing up to school, and no worker should feel they have to sacrifice their religious observance.”
Haney said his new legislation, Assembly Bill 2017, would ensure Muslims in California are “seen, valued and treated with the same dignity as every other community in our state.”
By declaring Eid a state holiday, the bill would guarantee excused absences for students and allow workers to use paid leave to take the day off.
Muslim community leaders said the bill is particularly important amid rising Islamophobia. Hala Hijazi, founder of the Muslim Impact Council, called Haney’s bill a “historic step.”
“By recognizing Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, we are affirming that equity, dignity, and belonging must be lived realities for Muslim Californians,” Hijazi said in a statement. “This vital legislation will help position California as a leader in religious inclusion.”
AB 2017 will be heard in two committees — Assembly Governmental Organization and Assembly Public Employment — in the coming weeks.
Eid al-Fitr, which celebrates the end of Ramadan, is March 20-22 this year. Eid al-Adha is May 27-30.
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