By Moses J. Dawoe
/Southeast Correspondent
The Muslim community in Pleebo City, Maryland County, convened on Friday, June 6, 2025, to commemorate Abraham Day, a religious observance honoring the legacy of Prophet Abraham in Islam.
The event drew over 300 attendees and renewed calls for the formal recognition of Islamic holidays in Liberia.
Chief Imam Abdourahmane H. Bah, speaking at the Pleebo Youth Center during the celebration, called on the Liberian government to declare two national holidays for Muslims—Abraham Day and the end of Ramadan. He argued that such recognition would reflect Liberia’s religious inclusivity and acknowledge the contributions of Muslims to national development.
“It is not unreasonable for the Muslim community to receive the same level of national recognition as our Christian brothers and sisters,” Imam Bah said, citing existing Christian-observed holidays such as Thanksgiving Day, Fast and Prayer Day, Christmas, New Year’s Day, and Decoration Day.
The Imam emphasized that the absence of officially recognized Islamic holidays creates disparities within the community, especially during major religious observances. He noted that some Muslims are forced to celebrate a day later due to work obligations, as the days are not recognized as public holidays.
“This affects our unity,” Bah said. “Recognizing these days would not only affirm our identity as Liberian Muslims but also foster national unity, peace, and solidarity.”
The Abraham Day celebration also served as a symbolic connection to Muslims performing the annual Hajj pilgrimage, reinforcing the spiritual significance of the day within the global Islamic community.
Imam Bah used the platform to urge the five lawmakers representing Maryland County to join forces with their legislative colleagues in pushing for the institutionalization of Muslim holidays in Liberia.
He revealed that the Muslim community is already in dialogue with national stakeholders to advance the proposal, expressing hope that the state will act in the spirit of equality and inclusivity.
“The time has come,” Bah said, “for Liberia to recognize all its people, regardless of religion.”
