Recognise Ashura as a Federal Holiday
Ashura is the tenth day of Muharram, the first Month of the Muslim calendar, and is significant for the brutal murder of Hussain Ibne Ali (PBUH), the dearest grandson of the Prophet Muhammad
(PBUH), as well as 72 of his family members and friends by the political tyrant of the era, Yazid ibne Muawiya. This day of inexplicable grief occurred in Karbala, Iraq in 680 AD.
Given the timeless nature of his story, it is important that all of us reflect and realize the importance of his struggle. As a result, we urge that the day of Ashura be added to the list of Muslim holidays observed as an official public holiday.
Declaring Ashura as a public holiday could strengthen the ability of the US to project itself, as its founding fathers wanted, as a beacon o