Dear students, teachers, parents, friends and neighbors, please sign this petition to help Muslim students in Danbury school and share it with others to sign as well. 

We- Muslim students of Danbury, are requesting the Board of Education to include in the Danbury Schools Academic and Instructional Calendars- the observance of our Eid holidays.

Danbury is home to a sizeable and growing Muslim population. Islam is the world's second-largest religion with 1.9 billion followers, or 24.9% of the world's population. Thousands of Muslim families live in Danbury, and a large portion consists of school-age children and young adults enrolled in Danbury public schools. 

Eid al-Fitr, or the “Feast of Breaking the Fast,” and Eid al-Adha, the “Festival of Sacrifice,” are very important holidays of giving and gratitude that involve special services, ceremonies, and traditions celebrated with family and the community.

The Danbury public schools recognizing Eid as a holiday would provide Muslim students with long overdue accommodation. Stamford, Manchester, Bridgeport, Trumbull, Fairfield, New Haven, Hamden, Waterbury, and Norwalk already have the Eid holiday off, and we believe that Danbury should be on this list as well. Danbury has dedicated days off from school for many non religious and religious holidays, including Yom Kippur and Good Friday.

Every year, thousands of Danbury Muslim students make a difficult choice between attending school and not fully honoring/ observing their cultural traditions, or missing school entirely so that they may join family and community members in participating in holiday celebrations and activities.

While Muslim students’ absences might be excused when observing Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, such students are still disadvantaged by losing a day of in-class instruction, which can cause them to fall behind their peers.

Muslim students have been victims of high levels of Islamophobic sentiment and Islamophobia in U.S. public schools. It is a prevalent and ongoing problem, according to a nationwide poll taken in 2020 by the Council on American-Islamic Relations, which found 51% of Muslim students in kindergarten through 12th grade faced religious bullying, more than twice the reported national average of 20%.

Starting from as young as elementary school, Muslim students feel a deep otherness in the way we are treated and the way racist remarks are constantly being made, leading to Muslim students wanting to hide and creating a struggle with their identity. 

Having the days off would not only enrich Muslim students, but would foster an environment of diversity and inclusion that would allow students them to learn about each other. Also, research shows that students are better positioned to succeed academically, feel a sense of belonging and retain a healthy state of well being in school climates that embrace students’ diverse backgrounds.

Recognizing Eid ul-Fitr as a school holiday goes beyond simply accommodating religious practices, it provides an opportunity to promote cultural awareness and understanding among students of all backgrounds. By celebrating diverse holidays, we encourage dialogue and an environment of inclusivity, allowing students to learn about different cultures and traditions, and nurturing an appreciation for diversity.

Please sign our petition so we can continue advocating for having the day off!

 

BoE meetings: 

Students from the Danbury schools present on January 24th, 2024 at the Danbury Board of Education Meeting

Hakeem Osman - Danbury High School

Fatima Ahmed - Danbury High School 

Mariam Azeez - Danbury High School

https://www.youtube.com/live/vL4zZw_guSY?si=5QMqNdJXmXBb0OVa

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Students from the Danbury schools present on February 14th, 2024 at the Danbury Board of Education Meeting

Sarah Sayem - Broadview Middle School 

Adam Khan - Broadview Middle School

Mariam Azeez - Danbury High School

Sarina Johnson - Danbury High School

Maria Khan - Danbury High School Alumni 

https://www.youtube.com/live/im1XskwIguM?si=8B3yQnyzw1Mz1OTL