‘RIP the Republic’: debate over postponing French Muslim students’ exams for religious holiday

Ile-de-France region’s decision to allow those celebrating the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr to postpone graduation exams has sparked controversy. Critics of the move say France is ignoring the principles of secularism. The measure was proposed by Maison des Examens, which manages the bac in the Ile-de-France region. This year one of Islam’s most important…

Share Button
Read More

New York City public school kids getting new Muslim, Lunar New Year holidays

February 4, 2014   Mayor de Blasio said Monday that he’d move forward with closing schools for Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, two Muslim holy days, and for Lunar New Year. But he was hesitant regarding Hindu festival Diwali. Appearing on WNYC’s “Brian Lehrer Show” on Monday, the mayor said he hadn’t taken a position…

Share Button
Read More

Montgomery’s decisions on school holidays

MUSLIM LEADERS in Montgomery County stress that, in petitioning school officials to set aside an Islamic holy day as an official day off, they are not advocating for any of the currently recognized holidays to lose their designations. The unwillingness to broach that possibility is understandable, given the sensibilities and traditions attached to these holidays….

Share Button
Read More

Montgomery County school leaders to discuss closing for Muslim holidays

When Montgomery County Council member George L. Leventhal sent a letter to school leaders late last month asking for schools to be closed on two Muslim holidays, he cited the county’s significant Muslim population and religious fairness. But school systems in the state cannot declare days off — in this case, Eid al-Adha and Eid…

Share Button
Read More

French businesses respond to a growing number of Muslim employees

According to a new study on the workforce and Muslims in France published by anthropologist Dounia Bouzar, Allah a-t-il sa place dans l’entreprise? (Albin Michel, 2009), there are growing tensions related to requests for absenteeism on religious holidays. One third of French businesses, largely in the Parisian region, feel concerned about the matter. Bouzar also…

Share Button
Read More