Why is Israel silencing the call for prayer in Jerusalem?
As I was growing up, I was always reassured by the sound of the muezzin’s call for prayer in our refugee camp’s main mosque in Gaza. Whenever I heard the call very early in the morning, announcing in a melodic voice that the time for the “fajr” (dawn) prayer was upon us, I knew it […]
Benjamin Netanyahu backs bill to stop mosque ‘noise’
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he backs a bill limiting the volume of calls to prayer from mosques, a proposal government watchdogs call a threat to religious freedom. Israeli media reported on Sunday the bill would stop the use of public address systems for calls to prayer.
Israeli Cabinet panel backs ban on mosques using loudspeakers
TEL AVIV, Israel — An Israeli Cabinet panel voted Sunday to endorse legislation that would silence mosque loudspeakers that broadcast the call to prayer. The vote by the Cabinet panel on Sunday means the legislation will be introduced in parliament as a bill backed by the entire coalition improving its chances for final passage.