Opinion: “Religious Observances Should be Respected”

November 6, 2005

Source: The Tampa Tribune

http://tampatrib.com/opinion/MGBT0HZJOFE.html

On November 6, 2005 The Tampa Tribune ran an opinion peice by Parvez Ahmed, chairman of the board for the Council on American-Islamic Relations. "The Council on American- Islamic Relations, which has been at the forefront of the Muslim community's efforts to have Islamic religious holidays accommodated, is disappointed at the [Hillsborough County School Board's] decision to ban all religious holidays, save Christmas. Because the removal of religious holidays came on the heels of the Muslim community's request for inclusion of their religious holiday, we call on the board to reinstate the Christian and Jewish holidays, even if it means not granting Muslims their reasonable request. Our faith teaches us to love for others what we love for ourselves. We would love to have our holiday recognized in the school calendar along-side the holidays of people of other faiths. Yet it makes no sense to us that Christians and Jews should be penalized just because Muslims are seeking their rightful place within the fabric of our nation's multifaith society."