Will you wake up to Islamic prayer call?

worldnetdaily.com ^ | April 15, 2004 | worldnetdaily.com

[ovrtaxt]

A holy war of sorts is heating up in a Detroit suburb, where members of the local Muslim community want loudspeakers on mosques to announce the Islamic call to prayer five times each day.

But the idea is running into opposition from other residents of Hamtramck, Mich., many of whom are Christian, who think the prayer calls as early as 6 a.m. and as late as 10 p.m. would be disruptive.

"When you call to prayer, you are proselytizing, and as a citizen of the United States I don't want to hear it," Bob Golen, 68, told the Detroit Free Press.

"It is not my God. My God is Jesus Christ," Caroline Zarski, 81, said. "I don't want this noise invading my home at 10 p.m."

The Al-Islah Islamic Center asked the city three months ago to alter its noise ordinance to allow the calls to prayer. In February, the council reportedly supported the change but sought a public hearing before making any change.

"We don't want to make it a big deal," said businessman Abdul Algazali, according to the Free Press. "It's a low-pitched voice. It's not going to wake up anybody."

City Council President Karen Majewski compared the call to prayer to bells ringing on Christian churches, though other residents were said to disagree at Tuesday's meeting.

Majewski says the loudspeaker measure is likely to pass at next week's meeting, and would subsequently take effect in late May.

"Petitions have circulated among mainly white and Christian members of the community for weeks asking the council not to amend the ordinance," said Councilman Scott Klein. "Both sides have issued threats of federal lawsuits based on the constitutionality of the ban or the removal of the ban."

There are five mosques in Hamtramck, and three others just over the border in Detroit.

On its website, the city says it provides "A Touch of THE WORLD In America," touting itself as "the home of the most varied ethnic mix of people and customs from around the world."

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[ovrtaxt]

Yeah, that would not go over in my neighborhood! Those speakers would be taking damage on a fairly regular basis.

[ChadGore]

It's Theocratic Tyrany.

[F14 Pilot]

PING!

[taxed2death]

Why not pump Jerry Falwell at 125 decibles right back at 'em!


LOL

[Guillermo]

Here it comes.

Only idiots don't believe Mohammedans in the US want to impose Islamic Law on everyone else.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

Thanks

[ovrtaxt]

Or have a REALLY LOUD Holy Ghost revival style 'incident' right on the public sidewalk in front of the mosque? Hehehe

[eastforker]

It's almost like owning a bar and letting the wrong crowd in. Before you know it they take over and make it theirs, demand changes, and nobody else comes anymore. The only solution then is to close down and reopen somewhere else and remember the lesson. Never sacrifice a few dollars for long term stability.

[theDentist]

"When you call to prayer, you are proselytizing, and as a citizen of the United States I don't want to hear it."

Their reply will be: "How about church bells? Those too are rung before masses, and can be heard throughout a city." I wouldn't want to hear that wailing either, but be ready for the ACLU to call for a halt to bells pealing as it would offend atheists.

[blackdog]

What irony........I get a citation and fine for my dog barking at 8:00 and the guy who cut my trees could not start the work until 9:00am because of noise, but this????

And I've been to Saudi Arabia and I've heard the cat wallering. It's not something you sleep thru.

[reagan_fanatic]

I hope if the measure passes, the residents there will use those loudspeakers as bullseyes for target practice.

"There is no god but allah, and muhammed is ..." **ZING!!**

[eastforker]

see post # 9

[Rummyfan]

That loudspeaker should meet with daily sabotage if this is approved. Won't say anything else as I don't want to become a suspect!

[netmilsmom]

Actually someone suggested a pig roast on the sidewalk. With strippers.

[blackdog]

This is shot #1 from within. And I'm not being over the top either.

[blackdog]

And what would the Jehova's witnesses who are banned from towns have to say about this?

[livius]

You're right.

[Guillermo]

That would certainly be deemed "hate speech" (by the Mohammedans and Politicians).

[CatoRenasci]

There's really a very simple solution to this, that doesn't offend anyone's religious sensibilties:

Let them use a low powered radio station to broadcast their call for prayer 5 times a day, with hardwired receivers in every Moslem's house (at their own expense of course) that automatically come on when the signal is transmitted, blast their caterwallering through the Moslem house, and go dormant until the next call.

Anything heard outside will be subject to the law against public nuisance and noice pollution.