Should we institute a Law to allow Muslim Employees to take a hours off from work for Friday Jummah Prayer?

Question

http://www.muslimsforobama08.com/issues

QUESTION: What are issues and recommendations for solutions that are unique to Muslim Americans?

1. A Law against harrassment of a Muslim women wearing Hijab at the Airport, DMV and other public arenas.

2. Institute a Law to allow Muslim Employees to take a hours off from work for Friday Jummah Prayer.

3. Make the 2 Eid's, recognized National Holidays on Calendars with days off from work.

4. Optional Halal meals in federal buildiings, public schools and colleges.

5. Provide prayer areas suitable for Salah and Jummah, in public and private facilities. (i.e. Malls, Airports, Universities and government buildings.)

6. Organize a Muslim American group to assist in recommendations for US foreign policy affecting majority Muslim countries.

Answer 1

1- This law already exist (while violation do occur, it is due to security personnel ignorance and not due to lack of legislation). according to the law if they need to require a muslim women to remove her hijab for being searched at the airport and so, it can be done by female officers, also us law allow hijab in passport and driver licence photos, (nb hijab doesn't cover the face, covering the face is considered generally not required r optional by the vast majoirty of muslims, and only very small group consider it mandatory).
2- the U.S. law already state that employers should provide reasonable religious felexibility for people of all faith, examples mentioned for this law include specifically jumma prayer, and also allowing a place at worrk for daily prayers
3- That is just two much, there are many other religions in the states and to treat them all equaly will make us take every single day of work as a vacatiion, muslims usually take these days as a regular vacation from work. this issue has never been discussed among muslims because that would be too much and not required.
4-Halal food include a wid variety of options, every veggiterian and fish based meal is halal, also any beef anf chicken can be halal if a simple prayer is told before eating. so that is not an important issue.
5- Most airports contain religious rooms, that allow people of any religion to pray, they are very adequate. there is no restriction in islam on the place of prayer you can pray in any room or corner (except bathrroms).
6- this group already exist it is CAIR (council of american islamic relationship) and triesto help the american government but unfortunatley this administration refuse to listen to anybody, including non muslim middle east experts.

as a muslim living in the U.S. I feel very comfortable here. the united states is a nation of immigrants of all type of religions and races. that is what make it so awesome and unique. it s not just for whit christians. it is for everybody.

Answer 2

None of the above.

"1. A Law against harrassment of a Muslim women wearing Hijab at the Airport, DMV and other public arenas."

There are already laws against harrassment on the grounds of race or religion. No new laws are needed in this area. If by "harrassment" you mean Muslim women should be allowed to remain veiled in these areas, then no, certainly not. The whole point of photo ID is to enable the authorities to identify the person - they can't do that if the face is veiled.

"2. Institute a Law to allow Muslim Employees to take a hours off from work for Friday Jummah Prayer."

No. Other religions also have religious obligations, and no law forces employers to run their businesses in such a way as to work round those obligations. Why should Muslims be special?

"3. Make the 2 Eid's, recognized National Holidays on Calendars with days off from work."

Why? The Jewish High Holy Days are not, Diwali is not, Beltane is not, Buddhas birthday is not... again, why should Muslims be special? The only religious holiday in the US is Christmas, and that's because the VAST majority of Americans are Christian.

"4. Optional Halal meals in federal buildiings, public schools and colleges."

No. Halal rules violate animal cruelty laws in most States. There is a religious exemption to allow Halal butchers to use the Halal method of slaughtering (no pre-stunning) but to allow the service of Halal meats in public buildings would make the government a party to this primitive cruelty, and that is NOT acceptable.

"5. Provide prayer areas suitable for Salah and Jummah, in public and private facilities. (i.e. Malls, Airports, Universities and government buildings.)"

There aren't even "Christian" prayer areas in most public buildings, so no way are special areas for Muslims ever going to be provided.

"6. Organize a Muslim American group to assist in recommendations for US foreign policy affecting majority Muslim countries."

The State department already listens - many people would say "listens too much" to input from Muslim goups and the government of Muslim countries in such matters. US Foreign policy should reflect what is best for the US, not what is best for countries where at BEST a substantial minority, and in many cases an overwhelming majority, of the population hates us.

Richard

Answer 3

1. Nobody should be harassed for their choice of attire. Including Muslim women.

2. Although I do not agree with time off of work, I do believe that it is unconstitutional to discriminate a person on the ground of religion. An employees needs and schedule must be outlined upon hiring. The same would be true of a Christian not wanting to work Sundays or a Jew not wanting to work Fridays for religious purposes.

3. I don't even believe that Christian holidays should be national holidays, therefore I do not agree with any other day being a NATIONAL holiday based upon religious belief. It can be taken of and observed if a person desires.

4. Halal meal options should be provided. We make many concessions for dietary restrictions, including no nuts, kosher, vegetarian, and vegan to accommodate a persons dietary restrictions.

5. No prayer areas, if a private place wishes to designate a prayer area, that is their prerogative. However it should not be Law.

6. All nations and persons should have input into foreign policy. After all we supposedly live in a democratic society.

Those are my thoughts on the matter.

Answer 4

No, we should make it a law that we don't do that. We live in America. Leave it that way. No other country cares about our holidays and beliefs. They don't change there culture for Americans, Why the heck should we. I have lived in Other countries and they told me to learn to deal with there beliefs and there food and there holidays.

Answer 5

not formal with small businesses Juma prayers may be possible. Mona is lying to her teeth. Christian even have their Orthodox Christmas a national holiday. Why bold and flagrant lying and hate?

Answer 6

yes i think they would appreciate that i lived in egypt for 3 years and i never saw a non muslim mistreated, the always respected their holidays. and if they do that for other religions why do they hesitate to do that for islam all that news on cnn is wrong about them anyways