I missed this. Did you all see it?
Call to prayer is unsettling in Hamtramck
HAMTRAMCK — A controversial noise ordinance allowing a mosque to broadcast daily Islamic calls to prayer over loud speakers is set to go into effect Wednesday.
But it probably won’t go into effect because of a petition protesting the ordinance.
But it probably won’t matter because the mosque plans to broadcast the calls to prayer anyway.
Confused? The Hamtramck City Council will try to sort through the mess Tuesday in the latest round of what is becoming a lesson in democracy, freedom of speech and freedom of religion. (snip)
(snip)Masud Kahn, the associate imam of the mosque, said the mosque will begin the calls to prayer Friday, as planned, no matter what happens with the petition and the council.
Kahn and council President Karen Majewski say the mosque didn’t need the city’s permission to broadcast the calls to prayer in the first place.
Because the mosque is a religious institution and because it is broadcasting from its own property, the city has no control over the calls to prayer beyond regulations contained in the noise ordinance. (snip)
http://www.detnews.com/2004/religion/0405/23/b03-160686.htm