Posted on 06/03/2004 3:25:50 PM PDT by missyme
HAMTRAMCK, Michigan -- Hamtramck, Michigan is a blue-collar town surrounded by the city of Detroit. Its downtown storefronts reflect the diversity of immigrants who settled here. But an influx of immigrants from the Middle East has transformed Hamtramck from a melting pot into a political powder keg. New Muslim residents are adopting American habits, driving SUVs and talking on cell phones. But many still cling to old customs, wearing traditional dress, and shopping at markets that sell "halal," or meat slaughtered according to Islamic law. Now one Bangladeshi mosque wants to revive a controversial ritual.
The Islamic call to prayer is a 1,400-year-old tradition, sung in most U.S. mosques within the walls. But the Al Islah Islamic Center says they should be able to broadcast over public loudspeakers in Arabic, five times a day, from 6am to 10pm.
The call to prayer states, "Allah is great…Mohammed is Allah's prophet…come to prayer. There is no god but Allah."
Mosque president Ahmed Motlib asked the city's permission to broadcast from rooftop loudspeakers. Motlib says, "Some people, they don't know what time is our congregation, only for congregation coming and participating. That's why we want to call prayer outside."
But the request has split the community. Hundreds signed a petition to block the broadcasts as a public annoyance.
Hamtramck resident Jerry Radziszewski says, "To me, this is disturbing the peace. They understand what it is. We don't. To us it's just a bunch of noise."
Mosque supporters say the Azan can already be heard from mosques in nearby Detroit No different, they say, from Christian church bells.
Motlib comments, "Azan is only two minutes, less than two minutes is noise. Every hour church bell, more than five minutes their bell make belling. So we don't feel anything bad."
Bob Zwollack is a former city clerk who led the petition drive. He says it is an issue of noise.
"Even if they got up on their towers and did it like they did 1,400 years ago," says Zwollack, "where you just had a call to prayer like before, there's not a problem. Who's going to object to that? Yes, they have a right to free speech, but the overall objection was an amplified sound, amplified religious statement."
But the dispute has escalated into a national controversy over religious freedom. The press converged on heated city council meetings, which exploded with calls for tolerance and charges of discrimination.
Hafiz Mohammed of the Islamic Association of Michigan, says, "Those people who are opposing Azan, our position is not a new phenomenon. They are racist! "
Council member Scott Klein says, "The folks I've seen leading this have nothing on the boys from Montgomery, the boys from Birmingham, the boys from Mississippi."
Hamtramck resident Bob Golen protests, "I am not a racist! My wife is not a racist."
Joanna and Bob Golen are life-long residents of this neighborhood, now largely owned by Bangladeshi newcomers. The Golens say they have been demonized for signing the petition.
Bob Golen says, "I don't tell them to believe in Jesus, I don't want them to tell me to believe in Mohommed. The call to prayer is fine, but don't evangelize me where I can't turn you off five times a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. They're going to tell me their god is the only true god? I don't have to listen to that."
The Golens say the mosque is forcing a foreign religion right onto their front porch, proselytizing on public airwaves.
Joanne Golen says, "Why is it wrong for them to practice their religion the way they want to? They can do it any way they want in their mosque, like we do in our churches, in their homes, like we do. I can even sit on my porch and pray silently. I'm all for them practicing their religion, but I do not want to hear over loudspeakers their god being praised in my ears five times a day."
COUNT ON THAT
The sound of church bells in the distance remains one of my absolute favorite sounds. It's a shame that they will be heard less and less in the wake of PC-dom.
So do I, only they live up the street. And it does indeed sound like that...and I love most types of music.
Just a small thing from a child of the '80s....not Deaf Leappord, Def Leppard. And I like your idea. I think, though, that I will substitute Petra. (Christian Rock)
;-)
BINGO!
Hafiz Mohammed of the Islamic Association of Michigan: "Those people who are opposing Azan, our position is not a new phenomenon. They are. . ."
Aside to a companion,"Habib, What is that word to manipulate the American infidels?"
Habib: "Racist, my Imam".
Hafiz Mohammed: "They are RACIST!".
Just ask Nick Berg, Danny Pearl, or the other millions of infidels who heard those words screamed at them as their throats were cut.
Prayer. Murder. For "Allah", what's the difference?
One is reminded of "Molech" in the Old Testament, who required human sacrifice as part of worship.
But then, we are talking here about the same god here, are we not?
I have no doubt of exactly what you mean and I don't find it either amusing or righteous. I've seen too many dead people (Muslims, btw) who were murdered by armed majoritarians.
It's not his fault, he really appears to have been born that way. Of course, it's quite true that he works overtime at it on top of it all, but you know what I mean.
Indeed, the black moon-rock god allah.
Hey...there's a new invention out there...perhaps you've heard of it.
It's called a CLOCK!
No Mohammed, they just don't want a murderous cult to spread it's demented message over public loudspeakers 5 times a day.
Through the passing of Amendment XIV, the above is fully enforceable to all states and local governments.
To prohibit Islamic calls to prayer is a clear violation of the Constitution.
I giss yu'll just have to live with the fact that them there aaaa-rabs will have the same rights as you.
Just to be clear: it specifically protects RELIGIOUS speech:
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;"
A call to prayer is a pretty clear "free exercise" of religion. End of story.
Would you also be in support of public address systems broadcasting the Christian daily prayer over the same medium? Let me guess. You'll say it's an alert, whereas daily prayer is a religious message.
So is a daily call to Christian prayer, which will certainly not be allowed. Judge Roy Moore would be glad to hear your interpretation.
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