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


ISSUES & SOLUTIONS

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

Hey, if they don't like the laws her in America, then they can go back to where they came from. No I don't think they should get special laws for just them.

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

You cannot single out a person for their religious preferences. That also goes for protecting them over other people. Like for number 1, there are already laws against harassment. There should be no specific law that says muslim women shoud not be harassed for wearing a hijab. As for 2 and 3, people are allowed to take days off work, but if you mean that they should not be penalized, that would mean taking many days off of work for religious reasons, and as Muslims make up a large part of the workforce, it would not be conducive to the economy. I attend a private university, and there is an area for worship in my hall that people of any religion can use. There should not be specific areas made in public areas that are only open to muslims. However, I agree with number 6, as our government is definitely more liberal than Middle Eastern countries, and it would be good if representatives could give our leaders a better idea of how to approach dealings with those countries, considering that we have not done well so far.

Answer 4

Well, the same laws are in effect for other religions. Why not for Muslims? They are allowed to take off holidays anyway, anyone can take off a major religious holiday under public employment.

Answer 5

We should not give them anything. If they are here they need to assimilate, become American. All that other crap they can do in their own private homes.

Repeat, they get NOTHING special, NOTHING extra.

EDIT: Did someone write that Christians get special rights? I don't know of any. I know Christians who have no choice but work on Sunday. And even if we did have special rights, so what. It's our country!

Answer 6

No to all of those.