TACOMA—Governor Bob Ferguson has signed into law a bill officially recognizing Muslim holidays Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha as state holidays, making Washington the first state to do so. Ferguson signed the historic legislation surrounded by a standing-room-only crowd at the Islamic Center of Tacoma.
Senate Bill 5106, sponsored by Sen. Yasmin Trudeau (D-Tacoma), adds both Eid holidays to a list of 20 other state holidays. Rep. Osman Salahuddin (D-Redmond) sponsored the companion bill.
Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha are among the most significant Islamic holidays, celebrated by millions globally, including more than 100,000 Washingtonians.
The new law does not establish Eid holidays as paid holidays but rather adds them to the state’s list of recognized observances, similar to Lunar New Year or Billy Frank Jr. Day.
“This legislation does more than expand our list of state holidays,” Ferguson said. “Recognizing Eid holidays shows our Muslim friends, family and neighbors that we honor their culture and religious practice.”
During Tuesday’s community celebration, Sen. Trudeau — the first Muslim elected to the Legislature — addressed the crowd at the Islamic Center of Tacoma.
“I want to thank everyone who supported this bill and helped ensure that our state respects all people of faith and their constitutionally protected right to practice their religion freely and safely,” Sen. Trudeau said. “This is a simple bill, but by lifting up our Muslim community and our state’s commitment to religious liberty and the freedom to practice one’s faith free of fear and judgment, Washington is a richer and more vibrant place. This is a state where everyone is welcome, everyone is valued, and everyone belongs, no matter what your religion is.”
Rep. Salahuddin — the first and only Muslim member of the state House — also spoke Tuesday.
“This legislation is about more than just a date on the calendar,” Rep. Salahuddin said. “It’s about fostering respect, visibility, and inclusion for a community that has too often been overlooked.”
The new law comes as Muslims in the U.S. are experiencing increased discrimination. In Washington, one report from 2024 shows more than 82% of Muslims reported being the target of Islamophobia in the past year.
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Author: Lynnwood Times Staff
6 Responses
If ALL religions do not have special holidays recognized by the State, then this is discriminatory and hipocritical at least. And signed at an Islamic center rather than the normal State avenue for signings. Ferguson’s campaign donations and kickbacks should be investigated.
If the government wants to be fair, then they need to make a holiday, for each and every religion. The idea of a special Muslim holiday is all fine and dandy , as long as every other religion that is practiced in WA state gets its own holiday.
We need a holiday for Buddhism, Sieks , one for Indian Holi Day ,Mormon Day , a holiday for Atheists, a holiday for local Indian tribes ceremonial Day, Wickens ,
Excetra ….. the favoritism towards one groups religion is unfair to all the other types of religions whom would like to be recognized ” as special” .
Is this new holiday approved by the Mayor Woodwards, after her Jewish Sponsored, trip to Israel????? Now WA needs to favor Islam religion in order to make peace with Palestinians, whom support Hamas????
In war there are no winners, but in America you get special holidays if you feel your religion has been wrongly targeted?????
I support Buddhism, can I get a special holiday for my religious affiliations too ????
Well said, I agree
Totally agree this is just another way to divide the people.
This is BS, we don’t even have a day set aside for our own religions. Do you really think that the Muslims in other countries going to set aside a day for our religions and make it a holiday there. NOPE they would say for us to go home and have a holiday. This is so wrong. I’m not against their religion but come on, Baptist, Catholic and so many more don’t have a state holiday. Ferguson must be Muslim himself. If they get a state holiday, so should the remaining religions.
This bill, sponsored by Senator Yasmin Trudeau, D-Tacoma, amends Washington state law to officially recognize Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha as state holidays. It is worth noting that Muslims comprise less than 1% of both Washington State’s population and the U.S. population, yet there is ongoing discussion about officially recognizing certain Muslim holidays at both state and local levels.
As a Christian organization existing within what we consider a Christian nation, we do not support this legislation for several reasons. First, Easter—arguably the most prominent Christian observance—does not have federal or state holiday status. Christmas, historically celebrated as the birth of Jesus Christ, is increasingly referred to as a “winter holiday” by schools and federal organizations to avoid offending non-Christians. In similar fashion, we believe designating Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha as state holidays will offend Christians and other religious groups in Washington State.
While this legislation aims to acknowledge and accommodate the diversity of religious observances, our organization maintains that creating additional state holidays for Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha is unnecessary. Now that this legislation has been passed, how many other religious groups will press to have their unique celebrations recognized as state holidays?