BLOOMINGTON, Minn. — Minnesota Muslims are preparing to celebrate Eid-al-Adha Sunday, a day full of worship, unity and fun.
It is the second important Muslim holiday after Eid-al-Fitr.
For many, including Yonis Said, the celebration takes them to the Mall of America.
“It’s your place; the Mall of America is a place we would always go,” Said said.
Growing up, Said hoped to experience everything the mall had to offer, from eating to enjoying the attractions. He loved it so much that he also spent much of his youth working there.
Eid is a holiday that draws tens of thousands of Minnesota Muslims to the Mall of America.
“My favorite thing about Eid is going to MOA and spending time with my family members,” said 11-year-old Fatima Abdulqadir.
Abdulahi Farah is a community leader who grew up in Minnesota. He says year after year the Somali community continues to grow and space to gather is limited.
“The Mall of America is one of those places where you can bring the little kids, the teenagers and the whole family,” Farah said.
For the past few years, Farah along with other volunteers patrol the mall on Eid to ensure security, but a fight a few months ago was the reason for operational changes.
Somali community leaders, Mall of America officials and Bloomington police met to discuss a security plan ahead of Eid Sunday.
A plan that, according to Farah, is crucial.
“Sometimes there are few bad apples that can ruin the situation for everyone and that is why as parents we come here to volunteer and make sure that all the young people have fun,” Farah said.
Mall of America is putting its parental escort policy into effect all day Sunday. This is the same policy that applies on Black Friday and Christmas.
“The mall had some rules: Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by an adult and must have identification,” he said. “Here are some ways to mitigate the situation.”
In a statement, MOA officials say:
Over the years, we have experienced disruptive behavior during the Eid celebration at the Mall of America, particularly involving groups of youth causing disturbances. To ensure an enjoyable visit for everyone, we will be implementing some operational changes this Sunday. These measures include limiting outside entries and enforcing our policy of parental accompaniment throughout the day for those under 18 years of age. Leaders of the Eid community have expressed support for these additional security measures. Our goal is to allow those celebrating the holiday or visiting the mall to have a fun and positive experience. We are also focused on the safety of our team members and tenants, who work hard to provide an exceptional experience for our guests.
Farah says volunteers like him will also be at MOA to ensure a safe celebration on Sunday.
“My biggest hope is that families come, have a good Eid and we don’t have any situations that cast a negative light on the community,” he said.
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