CAIR-NJ Encourages Federal, State, and Local Elected Officials to Offer Eid ul-Fitr Holiday Greetings
(SOUTH PLAINFIELD, NJ, 04/20/2023) — The New Jersey chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NJ)today encouraged New Jersey federal, state, and local elected officials to offer holiday greetings and statements commemorating Eid ul-Fitr, one of two major Islamic holidays.
Eid ul-Fitr commemorates the end of Ramadan, a month marked by dawn to dusk fasting and increased worship and occurs on the first day of the tenth month of the Islamic calendar and . This year, Eid will be on Friday, April 21st.
CAIR National released a template message to elected officials requesting the introduction of local and state resolutions or proclamations marking the month of Ramadan and Eid –ul-Fitr. CAIR also provided sample resolutions for elected officials.
SEE: Template Message To Elected Officals
In a statement, CAIR-NJ Government Affairs Manager Madina P. Ouedraogo, MPA-PNP said:
“As the holy month of Ramadan concludes, and Eid-ul Fitr commences, we encourage all New Jersey federal, state, and local elected officials to acknowledge and honor this sacred time for their New Jersey Muslim constituency by offering official statements, digital greetings, resolutions, or proclamations.
“New Jersey elected officials are in a unique position. Unlike other states across the U.S., New Jersey has the most Muslim per capita. Approximately 400,000 adults in New Jersey are Muslim.
“We hope that all elected officials within New Jersey will highlight the sacred month of Ramadan and the culminating holiday, Eid ul-Fitr, with inclusive and welcoming gestures and remarks.”
BACKGROUND:
New Jersey has the highest percentage of Muslim residents in the U.S., at 3.5 percent, according to 2020 US Religion Census and the Association of Religion Data Archives.
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. Fasting is the fourth pillar of Islam. During Ramadan, Muslims abstain from food, drink, and other world pleasures from dawn to dusk, and engage in a committed worship of Allah (God). The devotional act of fasting is observed by thousands of able-bodied Muslims statewide.
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
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CONTACT: CAIR-NJ Communications Manager Dina Sayedahmed, dsayedahmed@cair.com, 551-221-5592
