CLIFTON PARK, N.Y. – Parents are complaining about special prayer rooms recently established in Clifton Park high schools for Ramadan, a special accommodation some think is unnecessary.

“It has opened Pandora’s box,” an unidentified mother told the Albany Times Union. “If I was a devil worshiper, could I get a room?”

MORE NEWS: From Classroom to Consulate Chef: Culinary Student Lands Dream Job at U.S. Embassy in Paris

Shenendehowa High School Principal Donald Flynt recently announced plans to offer special Muslim prayer rooms at both of the school’s campuses – Senendehowa East and West – for the month of Ramadan that runs through June 24, the Saratogian reports.

“A local Imam from a mosque that is planned for our area was invited to speak at an Association meeting and one of the topics discussed was Ramadan,” school spokeswoman Kelly DeFeciani told the site.

“It’s a month long and there are certain obligations that must be done in addition to praying. Principal Flynt wanted those students who observe Ramadan to be able to stay in school and also fulfill their religious obligations.”

DeFeciani said students are permitted to take excused absences for religious reasons, but the two Muslim prayer rooms – one at each campus – will not only keep Muslim students in school but also improve “cultural proficiency.”

“Making the rooms available is part of our effort with cultural proficiency,” she said. “We are trying to get people to understand all different cultures. We want to make the school conducive, so all students can learn, can feel accepted, and feel understood. With this effort, this group can meet both their educational and religious obligations. In this case, it’s the principal’s decision. He’s doing it to meet the needs of his students.”

In an email to all high school parents, Flynt wrote that the prayer rooms jibes with the district’s focus on “the importance of being sensitive to the needs of all students and personnel.”

MORE NEWS: Know These Before Moving From Cyprus To The UK

“In an attempt to make reasonable accommodations for students and employees to meet their personal religious obligations, room 65 in High School West and room 109 in High School East have been set aside so students can incorporate this important aspect of their religion into their daily activities while at school,” the principal wrote.

The unidentified mother told the Times Union she thinks the special accommodation for Muslim students doesn’t make sense after years of schools working to erase all signs of other religions in schools.

“We all have to manage going to school and our religion,” she said. “It’s OK before school, after school, but not while school is in session.”

DeFeciani argued that the district is bound by federal law to create the Muslim prayer rooms.

“In some circumstances, schools may be required to make accommodations that relieve substantial burdens on students’ religious exercise,” she said. “We have the day off for other religion holy days or students can miss school and it is an excused absence but that would mean that these students miss a month of school. So the principal provided this classroom.”

Local Islamic leaders are grateful for the special treatment.

“Ramadan is much more than fasting,” Imam Abdul-Rahman Yaki, with the Islamic Center of the Capital District, told the Saratogian. “It’s one part of the package. There is the obligation of prayer, there are five, and recitation of the Quran is encouraged at this time because that when it was first revealed. There are other obligations also.”

Halfmoon Imam Mohammad Radie told the Times Union the prayer rooms are essential for students to pray in private because some local Muslim students have allegedly been harassed then they try to pray.

“There is so much pressure on the students,” Radie said. “Basically, we requested the room for Ramadan prayers, for them to be able to practice their religion in security. Thankfully, the school responded.”