To: Governor Josh Shapiro and the Pennsylvania General Assembly

We, the undersigned, respectfully petition Governor Josh Shapiro and the Pennsylvania General Assembly to recognize Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha as official Pennsylvania state holidays, with public school closures and paid holiday leave for eligible Commonwealth employees.

Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha are two of the most important religious holidays celebrated by Muslims worldwide.

Eid al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan, a sacred month of fasting, prayer, charity, and spiritual reflection. Eid al-Adha commemorates faith, devotion, sacrifice, and generosity.

For Muslim families throughout Pennsylvania, these holidays are a time to attend special prayers, gather with loved ones, give to those in need, and celebrate their religious traditions.

Yet many Muslim students and working families must navigate school schedules, work obligations, and religious observances on these important days.

Pennsylvania House Bill 363, introduced by Representative Tarik Khan, proposes recognizing Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, along with Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. However, HB 363 does not require employers to provide paid leave or treat these observances as legal or official holidays. It also does not require public schools to close.

We respectfully ask Pennsylvania to go beyond symbolic recognition and establish meaningful holiday observance policies.

What We Are Requesting
1. Official State Holiday Recognition

Designate Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha as official Pennsylvania state holidays, with annual observance dates determined in consultation with Muslim community leaders and appropriate religious calendars.

2. Public School Closures

Establish Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha as official holidays across Pennsylvania's public school districts, allowing Muslim children to celebrate with their families without missing classroom instruction, examinations, or important school activities.

Any statewide policy should include appropriate calendar planning to meet required instructional days.

3. Paid Holidays for State Employees

Provide paid holiday leave for eligible Commonwealth employees observing Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, with appropriate provisions for essential public services, collective bargaining agreements, and employee scheduling.

4. Fair and Inclusive Implementation

Work with educators, public employees, religious communities, and legislators to develop practical policies that respect religious freedom and accommodate the diverse needs of Pennsylvania residents.

Why This Matters
Religious freedom means more than being permitted to practice one's faith. For many families, meaningful observance also depends on having the time and opportunity to participate.

Official school closures would allow Muslim students to celebrate without having to choose between their education and religious traditions.

Paid holidays for state employees would provide dedicated time to participate in prayers, family gatherings, and community activities.

This request is not about diminishing the importance of any other religious tradition. It is about acknowledging the significance of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha and considering how Pennsylvania's public institutions can accommodate these observances.

Our Call to Action
We respectfully urge Governor Josh Shapiro and Pennsylvania lawmakers to:

Advance legislation recognizing both Eid holidays.
Establish a statewide public school holiday policy for Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha.
Provide paid holiday leave for eligible Pennsylvania state employees.
Engage Muslim communities and other stakeholders in developing and implementing these policies.
Governor Shapiro and members of the General Assembly: We ask you to consider meaningful recognition of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha for Pennsylvania's Muslim families, students, and public employees.

Please consider this petition and work toward legislation that makes these observances an official part of Pennsylvania's holiday calendar.

Respectfully,

Pennsylvania Residents, Muslim Families, Community Members, and Supporters of Religious Freedom

Sign this petition to request official recognition, public school holidays, and paid state employee holidays for Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha in Pennsylvania.