SYDNEY — Australian Muslims called Saturday, September 12, for the government to recognize their religious holidays, following a proposal allowing Christian employees to observer their religious holidays.
"There are only two Muslim public holidays, so it is not a lot to ask," Keysar Trad, president of the Muslim Friendship Association, told the Australian Associated Press (AAP).
He was referring to `Eid Al-Fitr, which marks the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan, and `Eid Al-Adha, which marks the end of hajj.
Trad’s call came a day after the New South Wales government has introduced a bill allowing employees to refuse to work on Christian-oriented holidays.
"It's about allowing workers to spend time with their families," said a spokesman for New South Wales Minister for Industrial Relations John Hatzistergos.
The bill, introduced to the parliament on Friday, bans shops from opening at Christmas, Easter, Boxing Day and Good Friday to give retail staffs more time to spend with family.
Any business owner who wants to work in these days should prove compelling demand from the local community.
"It's not about enshrining something for religious reasons, it's about protecting workers rights," said the spokesman.
Discrimination
Trad, the Muslim leader, said Muslims and workers of other faiths are also entitled to a break.
"I know Muslim workers face problems asking for their public holidays off work at the moment."
He said that Australian Muslims feel being discriminated against by ignoring their religious holidays.
"It does give the impression that we are a solely Christian nation.
"It raises the issue of other religions too, whether you are Hindu, Buddhist, Muslim.”
Muslims, who have been in Australia for more than 200 years, make up 1.5 percent of its 20-million population.
A recent governmental report revealed that Muslims are facing deep-seated Islamophobia and race-based treatment like never before.
Trad said that recognizing the Muslim religious holidays will help promote society cohesion.
"Celebrating other faith's public holidays, actually, is excellent for community relations."
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