Baltimore Co. schools won't be closing for Muslim holidays
TOWSON, Md. (AP) -- Baltimore County officials narrowly voted to keep schools open on Muslim holidays, prompting shouts of "Injustice!" from some members of the public.
The Baltimore County Board of Education on Tuesday voted 6-5 against closing schools for the two most important Muslim holidays when they fall on school days.
The vote followed an emotional discussion among school board members, while dozens of Muslims stood in the audience.
If the policy had passed, the school system would have been the first in Maryland to close on Eid al-Adha and Eid al-Fitr.
The vote came after more than a decade of advocacy by the Muslim community.
It is unclear how many Muslim children there are in the Baltimore County school system because the county doesn't collect data on students' religion.
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