Currently, the Department for Education guidelines discriminate against Muslims who celebrate Eid by stating that
“Schools must treat absence as authorised when it is due to religious observance. The day must be exclusively set apart for religious observance by the religious body to which the parents belong. Where necessary, schools should seek advice from the parents’ religious body about whether it has set the day apart for religious observance.”

This has resulted in headteachers across the U.K. to authorise ONE DAY’S leave for Eid. Any extra days taken off school for Eid are then recorded as unauthorised absence potentially criminalising parents if these unauthorised absences lead to fines and court cases. 

Eid is celebrated over a period of three days. With Muslim families spread across the UK one day is not enough for the children to enjoy Eid with having to go into school the next day quite often having to cut short celebrations after visiting relatives who may live far away. Children who take more than one day off school are then given an unauthorised absence even though they are observing and celebrating Eid. The DfE guidance is discriminatory. Muslim children have the right to enjoy Eid with their families over the Eid period not just limited to ONE DAY. All we ask for is not to be penalised and have TWO DAYS OFF.

Muslim families may often celebrate Eid on different days meaning that some family members may be excluded from the celebrations.