Excerpt:
Some Muslims want school officials to recognize their holidays by closing schools.
Abdelnasser Nofal, principal of the Andalusia Islamic School at 380 Walnut St, told the City Council that not having public schools closed on the holiday ending Ramadan and the Feast of Sacrifice prevents families from celebrating together.
“We have many students who are attending the [Yonkers’] schools who cannot freely celebrate because they have exams. They have to attend school. They cannot skip, especially at this time of the year,” Nofal said.
This year’s celebration of the end of Ramadan, on June 15, was in the midst of finals and the New York State Regents Examinations. While the state does not officially recognize Muslim holidays, no regents were scheduled for that day.