California now officially recognizes two Islamic holy days after Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation making Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha state holidays. The law gives Muslim state workers the right to take those days off, and it allows public schools to choose to close in observance, according to the source material.
What the law covers
Eid al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan. Eid al-Adha commemorates the conclusion of the annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca.
Critics’ objections
“This is really disconcerting,” Rabbi Michael Barclay told CBN News. “Ramadan is not a month of peace; in fact, al-Qaida calls it the month of conquests,” he said, arguing that California politicians are “pandering.” Barclay further claimed, “The state of California doesn’t honor any other religion. But now suddenly they’re kowtowing and catering to what is effectively Sharia law.”
Concerns about classrooms
The California Family Council objected to any state-promoted celebration of specific religious observances in public schools. “Our objection is to the state authorizing and promoting the celebration of specific religious holidays inside public school classrooms,” the group stated. “Students should be free to observe their own religious holidays, but the state should not commission curriculum guides telling schools to acknowledge and celebrate the theological meaning of religious observances. That crosses a line from accommodation into state-sponsored religious promotion.”
How other faiths are treated
Newsom also signed a separate bill recognizing the Jewish holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur in state law, but that measure does not grant the same status given to the Muslim holidays. Instead, it requires public schools and universities to make reasonable efforts to avoid scheduling public meetings or major events on those days, according to the source material. California does not officially recognize Good Friday or Easter as paid state holidays; Christmas is recognized as a state holiday.
Local closures and a ‘separate rules’ worry
Commentators like Barclay argue that giving districts the option to close for the Muslim holidays places Islamic traditions above Christian and Jewish observances. Critics also say the district-by-district approach risks areas adopting Islamic rules separate from the rest of the state.
Population context
The source material cites approximate figures: Muslims make up about 1% of California’s population, Christians 55%, and Jews closer to 3%.
