Posted on 05/26/2004 4:36:12 AM PDT by ElisabethInCincy
Call to prayer, noise ordinance, to go before Hamtramck voters
Tuesday, May 25, 2004
BY CECIL ANGEL FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER It's now up to voters.
The decision that has split Hamtramck -- City Council approval of a noise ordinance that would have allowed the Muslim call to prayer to be broadcast on loudspeakers from the Al-Islah Islamic Center -- was affirmed by a 5-0 vote Tuesday night.
Because the council didn't rescind the ordinance, the issue will go before voters, as required by the city charter. Until then, the city must put the ordinance on hold because residents filed petitions to stop it from going into law today.
The issue could be on the ballot as early as July in a special election or in August, the next regular election.
Even though the ordinance is in limbo, the Al-Islah mosque's leaders said Tuesday night they will begin broadcasting the call to prayer in Arabic at 1:30 p.m. Friday.
Masud Khan, secretary of the Al-Islah Islamic Center, said the mosque has a constitutional right to broadcast the call to prayer, adding that it is already being done in Detroit and Dearborn.
"If Detroit can do it, why can't we?" he asked. "We have religious freedom. We can express our religion."
The mosque wouldn't be breaking any laws if it does, said Councilman Shahab Ahmed. He said the Islamic center was just being a good neighbor when it asked for the city's permission in January to begin broadcasting. It won't be penalized for using its loudspeakers to broadcast the call to prayer with or without the ordinance, he said.
Mosques in Dearborn and Detroit broadcast on loudspeakers and have done so without seeking permission from those city governments.
"I'm very disappointed it's going to a ballot and further divide the community," Ahmed said.
For Robert Zwolak, organizer of the petition drive, the issue is about noise, not religion. He's confident the ballot issue to overturn the ordinance will easily be approved by Hamtramck voters.
"I personally don't think we need a campaign," he said. "The people are aware of this thing."
But City Council President Karen Majewski said the irony of the petition drive is that it strips city control over the frequency and volume of the call-to-prayer broadcasts.
"The petition actually rescinds whatever control we might have had," Majewski said. "I don't see the logic in that."
Calls to prayer occur five times a day and last about two minutes. Officials at the Al-Islah Islamic Center say when they begin broadcasting, they will not do so in the early morning or late at night so no one will be disturbed.
Muslims have been in Hamtramck for decades, but a wave of immigration from Bangladesh, Yemen, Bosnia and other countries with large Muslim populations have boosted their numbers and political clout in the city.
The city has struggled with its changing demographics and religious and ethnic differences.
"Fear of change and fear of the unknown," are the reasons many residents signed the petitions against the call to prayer, said Councilman Rob Cedar. "I voted for this because I thought it was the right thing to do."
I'm glad I moved south.
Whenever they get a church.
Could be a good time to check your car's emergency equipment...
I was thinking the same thing myself. If everyone in town that is opposed to this played some really loud and raunchy music, all the same song, all at the same time, they'd drown out their "prayer" calls.
The closest equivalent to their "call to prayer" which is really a prayer affirming the arabian moon god is the only god, would be something like the Apostles Creed.
That would be the thing to do: All churches in Hamtramck, and all the non-mussulman neighbors of the catarwallering mosque should play, at the same time and at the same volume as the islamic broadcasts, the Apostles Creed read by the evangelist, bishop, or Cardinal of their choice.
I like this.If you're going to play "amazing grace", let it it be the massed pipes of the scottish national orchestra and pipe band.Brilliant and LOUD
CC
Most of us are still o.k. Wayne county (Detroit) however is a lost cause.
CC
Publicly scheduled beheadings are nothing. The real Mohamedan sacraments are murder-suicide bombings and flying airliners into major buildings.
Add another to the list (although there are lots more):
Sudan where over 2 million Christians and animists have been murdered in the name of the disease called Mohamedanism.
Better yet, a reading of the Apostle's Creed, in Arabic AND English, gotta be sensitive, ya know.
Ooops, I didn't read down far enough before posting #32.
These mussees are certainly being provacative, here.
In order to work in Saudi Arabia,Workers had to sign a contract " Not to wear Crosses or Star oF David medallions".
But it was OK with the Stinko Saudi's that american Soldiers
put their lives on the line for these despicable Heathens.
Our Govt. went along with the charade.
My personal preference would be Handels "Messiah."
Who in the Muslim community surrounding the pork restaurant, are going to buy the meat? No one. Bankruptcy.
So what happened, if anything, today (Friday) ?
The silence of the ACLU is deafening.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.