Oxford Mosque Seeks Permission To Broadcast Call To Prayer


Oxford Central Mosque, Cowley Road, Oxford, is seeking permission from Oxford City Council to be allowed to make an amplified broadcast of the Islamic prayer call at least 3 times per day, 365 days a year.

One of the reasons given to justify this is that churches are allowed to ring their bells. However, the Muslim prayer call is not a simple signal to the faithful like the ringing of a bell is to Christians. Rather, it is an explicit theological statement, in Arabic, about Mohammed and his status as a prophet which takes about two minutes to recite.

Local residents opposed the application at an Oxford City Council meeting this week.

Links

Oxford Mail: ‘Alarm over call to prayer’

Oxford mail:’Call to prayer not necessary’