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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CAIR: Minn. Muslims Thank City for New Religious Holidays Policy
Edina becomes first Minnesota city not to hold public meetings on Islamic holidays

(MINNEAPOLIS, MN, 4/5/2012) -- The Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MN) today sent a letter to the City of Edina on behalf of that state's Muslim community in appreciation of a new policy that acknowledges religious holidays, including the Islamic holidays of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha.

[NOTE: Eid al-Fitr is the holiday marking the end of the month-long fast of Ramadan. Eid al-Adha comes at the end of the Hajj, or pilgrimage to Mecca.]

The city recently added 11 days of Jewish, Islamic and Hindu holidays to the list of dates on which the city will not hold regular public meetings.

SEE: Act of Faith: Edina Adds Dates to No-Meetings List (Star Tribune)

The resolution was brought to the city last year by the League of Women Voters-Edina. The city unanimously approved the policy, which has the flexibility to include additional religious observances. Edina is the only city in the state not to hold public meetings on Islamic holidays.

"This is an important gesture to minority religious communities," said CAIR-MN Executive Director Lori Saroya. "We hope other cities will follow Edina's lead and adopt similar policies that promote unity and inclusion."

In addition to Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, Edina's list of no-meeting religious days includes Good Friday, Christmas Eve, Diwali, Yom Kippur, Rosh Hashanah, and Passover.

There are an estimated 150,000 Muslims in Minnesota.

CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

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CONTACT: CAIR-MN Executive Director Lori Saroya, 612-327-6700, E-Mail:lsaroya@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202 488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail: ihooper@cair.com