CAIR-NY Welcomes CUNY Recognition of Eid Holiday, Urges Protections for Students’ Rights to Political Speech
(NEW YORK, NY, 2/14/2024) – The New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NY) today welcomed a CUNY’s recognition of Eid holidays, along with Diwali and Lunar New Year, on their academic calendar.
The CUNY Board of Trustees passed a resolution that CUNY will no longer be holding class on these days starting with the 2025-2026 Academic Year.
[NOTE: Eid ul-Fitr (EED-al-FITTER), or “feast of fast-breaking,” is the first of the two major Muslim holidays after the end of the month-long fast of Ramadan. The second holiday, Eid ul-Adha (EED-al-ODD-ha), comes near the end of the Hajj, or pilgrimage to Mecca.]
In a statement, University Student Senate Chairperson Salimatou Doumbouya said, “Knowing that the many CUNY students who celebrate Eid al-Fitr, Eid al-Adha, Lunar New Year and Diwali will finally now have their holidays formally recognized with classes not being held on those days is a huge step towards equity. I would like to thank every student who participated in pushing for this.
“As we move forward, we will continue advocating for putting students first. Shared governance should be at the heart of all our decision making. The brilliant student leaders of CUNY, present and future will continue to make sure that it remains and stays ingrained in the skeleton of our great University.”
SEE: Full Statement About CUNY Policy on Academic Calendar Change
In a statement, CAIR-NY Executive Director Afaf Nasher said:
“We welcome CUNY’s recognition of these holidays as a step toward respecting diversity on campus. We also hope that this move for diversity, equity, and inclusion encompasses freedom of speech and expression by students and teachers alike on CUNY campuses, especially with regard to Pro-Palestine solidarity. We remind CUNY presidents that embracing diversity is not just about holidays, but also about converging viewpoints that come with a diverse student population and faculty.”
She added that CAIR-NY and the Muslim American community stand in solidarity with all those challenging racial supremacy, religious bigotry, xenophobia, and all other forms of hatred.
CAIR-NY's mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR-NY es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
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CONTACT:
Afaf Nasher, Esq., CAIR-NY Executive Director, 917-669-4006, anasher@cair.com;
Rabea Ali, CAIR-NY Communications Coordinator, 347-651-0954, rali@cair.com;
Salimatou Doumbouya, University Student Senate Chairperson, chairperson@usscuny.org