In a move aimed at fostering religious inclusiveness and national unity, three Liberian Senators have jointly introduced a proposed bill calling for the official recognition of both Islamic and Christian holidays in the country.
The proposed legislation was submitted to the Liberian Senate on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, through a formal communication from Senators Edwin M. Snowe of Bomi County, Joseph K. Jallah of Lofa County, and Amara M. Konneh of Gbarpolu County.
The bill, according to the lawmakers, seeks to address what they described as a long-standing imbalance in the national calendar, where Christian holidays are widely observed while Islamic holidays remain unofficial despite the significant Muslim population in the country.
“We believe this bill is in the interest of fairness, national harmony, and the constitutional guarantee of religious freedom,” the Senators stated in their communication to the Senate plenary.
While details of the specific holidays proposed were not immediately made public, the initiative is expected to include the observance of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha for Muslims, in addition to already established Christian holidays such as Christmas and Easter.
The proposed bill comes amid ongoing debates around religious equity and representation in public life. Liberia is a religiously diverse nation, with Christianity and Islam being the two dominant faiths.
The submission is now expected to be forwarded to the appropriate Senate committee for scrutiny before being returned to plenary for debate and possible passage.
If passed into law, the bill would mark a historic shift in Liberia’s approach to religious observances, potentially making it one of the few West African nations to officially recognize holidays from both major religions equally.
