The Cabinet Secretary for Education who is also in acting position as the Interior Cabinet Secretary, a position he was nominated to handle following the demise of Maj. Gen. Joseph Nkeissery has confirmed that work will continue as expected in public offices.
The CS in a statement to the press said that Muslims have been allowed to skip work on Friday at the discretion of their employers to celebrate Idd-Ul-Adha.
“Adherents of Islam religion will celebrate the day and therefore employers should allow them to be away from work. For non-Muslims, this will be a normal working day,” read the statement.
The minister noted the holiday is only listed for Muslims but that plans are underway for a change. He said a bill will be presented in Parliament to make it a national public holiday.
Idd-Ul-Adha
Idd Ul Adha, also called the ‘sacrifice feast’, is celebrated worldwide each year to honor the willingness of Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac as an act of obedience to God’s command.
When and where?
Friday, September 1 has now been confirmed to be the first day of Eid al-Adha 2017 after the new moon crescent was sighted on August 22.
Saudi Arabia’s High Judicial Court has confirmed that the first day of the Muslim festival falls on Friday. But India and Pakistan will mark it from September 2.
The festival sometimes falls on different days around the world and is only confirmed by the sighting of the new crescent moon.