City of Philadelphia - File #: 230907

• File #: 230907
• Version: 0
• Type: Resolution
• Status: ADOPTED
• File created: 11/30/2023
• In control: CITY COUNCIL
• Final action: 12/7/2023
• Title: Calling on the Pennsylvania State Senate to pass House Bill 1752 declaring Eid al-Fitr a State holiday and urging Governor Shapiro to sign this legislation.
• Sponsors: Councilmember Jones, Councilmember Driscoll, Councilmember Gilmore Richardson, Councilmember Bass, Councilmember Lozada, Councilmember Harrity, Councilmember Brooks, Councilmember Gauthier, Councilmember Phillips

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result	Tally
12/7/2023	0	CITY COUNCIL	ADOPTED
11/30/2023	0	CITY COUNCIL	Introduced and Ordered Placed On Next Week's Final Passage Calendar

Title
Calling on the Pennsylvania State Senate to pass House Bill 1752 declaring Eid al-Fitr a State holiday and urging Governor Shapiro to sign this legislation.

Body
WHEREAS, Eid al-Fitr is one of the two official holidays celebrated within the Islamic Faith. Eid al-Fitr marks the end of the month-long sunrise to sunset fast during the holy month of Ramadan; and

WHEREAS, Eid al-Fitr is observed by 2,000,000,000 Muslims around the world. The holiday is determined by the sighting of the crescent moon which marks the beginning of the new lunar month of Shawwal; and

WHEREAS, Eid al-Fitr, Arabic for festival of breaking fast, is celebrated by communal prayer at daybreak on the first day. It is then followed by official receptions, private visits, exchanging gifts, wearing new clothing, and visiting the graves of deceased relatives. It is also a time for giving and receiving forgiveness as well as performing acts of charity; and

WHEREAS, Eid al-Fitr, is celebrated annually on the first day of the tenth month of the Islamic calendar. In 2024, Eid al-Fitr will begin on April 9th with many Muslims gathering for prayer in their mosque, and will last until April 10th; and

WHEREAS, According to a 2017 study, there are more than 3.45 million Muslims that are living in the United States, with nearly 300,000 living in Philadelphia. Muslims all throughout the Commonwealth and the City celebrate Eid al-Fitr privately without State recognition of a holiday that is so dear to them; and

WHEREAS, With the rise in Islamophobia across the nation, recognition of Eid al-Fitr by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, would go a long way in showing support for the Islamic community; and

WHEREAS, On Wednesday, November 15, 2023, The Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed House Bill 1752 sponsored by Representatives Carol Kazeem, Tarik Khan, and Jason Dawkins to designate Eid al-Fitr a State holiday. It is now time for the Pennsylvania State Senate to do the same and designat...