Being a Muslim student in New York City's schools just got a little easier, as Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Wednesday that schools in his jurisdiction will now recognize two of Islam's biggest holidays – Eid al-Adha and Eid al-Fitr.
De Blasio tweeted word of the new policy this morning, saying it was a decision "that respects the diversity of our city," Mediaite reported. In a press conference shortly after, he also said: "It was just a matter of fairness, it's as simple as that," the New York Times reported.
The mayor promised to add Muslim holidays to city school calendars during a 2012 campaign promise, the New York Times reported.
And the policy change will prove significant; an estimated 10 percent of the city's student population is Muslim.
The City Council previously tried to add Muslim holidays to the school calendar, but its vote to approve in 2008 was vetoed by then-Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
Bloomberg said then: "When you have a city as diverse as we do, with virtually every religion known to man practiced, if we closed school for every single day, there wouldn't be any school."
Eid al-Adha celebrates Abraham's love for God and his willingness to sacrifice his son. Eid al-Fitr closes out Ramadan, the Muslim fasting month.