Evansville Imam asks City Council for Muslim prayer ordinance
HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT)- A local Imam is asking the Evansville City Council to pass an ordinance, which would allow Muslim employees in the city, as well as students to take time off for Friday prayers.
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During Monday's City Council meeting, Faraji Garth, Imam at Evansville's Masjid As-Sunnah made the request, saying that Evansville is home to hundreds of Muslims, who are obligated to attend Friday Jummah prayers. Garth says that employees and students would be gone for an hour and half to two hours to pray and would make up the time off. He also states that employees are protected by the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which in part, requires employers to reasonably accommodate the religious practice of an employee or or prospective employee, unless it would cause an undue hardship to the employer.
Garth says he has attempted to contact employers in order to make requests on the behalf of local Muslims, but his emails have been ignored. City Council Members did not indicate if the request would be considered.
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