California moves to recognize Muslim celebrations Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha as official state holidays

The California State Legislature has introduced a bill that would designate the Muslim holidays of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha as state-recognized holidays.

The bill was officially introduced last month by Assemblyman Matt Haney and formally announced this week. If passed, California would become the second state in the country to recognize these holidays, after Washington.

Eid al-Fitr, or the “Festival of Breaking the Fast,” marks the end of Ramadan. Eid al-Adha, the “Festival of Sacrifice,” takes place about two months later and coincides with the end of Hajj, the annual Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca.

Under the proposed bill, public schools and community colleges in California could close in observance of the holidays, and they would be added to the list of required excused absences for students. State employees would be permitted to use eight hours of existing leave to observe them. The days would not, however, be designated as judicial holidays, meaning courts would remain open.

In a video announcement, Haney commented on the proposal with Muslim-inspired music playing in the background. The video began with him saying “Ramadan mubarak, everyone,” before arguing that Muslim students and workers in California are being “forced” to miss “one of the most holy days” for them.

“This is how we show, truly, that we are inclusive, that we value diversity, we celebrate diversity, and that our muslim neighbors, our friends, our colleagues, are fully included and able to celebrate without consequence the most holy day for them,” Haney said.

Heaney was joined by Bilal Mahmood, the first Muslim American supervisor in San Francisco. Mahmood said that the proposal “means a lot” to the thousands of Muslims in the city.

“With this Bill AB 2017, we will have Eid as a state holiday so they can see their values and their beliefs and their culture represented in ink,” Mahmood said.