As the first major American city to permit the announcement, or "adhan," to be heard over speakers five times a day, year-round, Minneapolis will permit the&nbsp;broadcast&nbsp;of the Muslim call to prayer at all hours.

The Minneapolis City Council overwhelmingly decided on&nbsp;Thursday to change the city's noise ordinance, which had barred morning and late-evening calls at specific times of the year owing to noise limits, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune. The decision took place during the holy month of Ramadan for Muslims.

“The Constitution doesn’t sleep at night,” said Jaylani Hussein, executive director of the Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, after the vote. He said the action in Minneapolis shows the world that a “nation founded on freedom of religion makes good on its promise.”

Since at least the 1990s, a significant portion of East African immigrants have lived in Minneapolis, where mosques are now commonplace.&nbsp;No organised community resistance was raised to the decision. Next week, it is anticipated that Mayor Jacob Frey will sign the bill.

“Minneapolis has become a city for all religions,” Imam Mohammed Dukuly of Masjid An-Nur mosque in Minneapolis told the Associated press,&nbsp;who was among several Muslim leaders who witnessed the vote.

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In order to allow the adhan to be broadcast outdoors five times per day during Ramadan, city officials collaborated with the Dar Al-Hijrah mosque three years ago. When light first comes in the morning, at midday, in the middle to late afternoon, at sunset, and when the night sky appears, prayers are performed. Summertime sunrise in Minnesota can come as early as 5:30 a.m., and the solstice sunset occurs after 9 p.m.

Last year, the city permitted broadcasts all year long, but only from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., eliminating early morning and occasionally late night prayer.

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Jewish and Christian leaders who recently attended a public meeting supported extending the adhan's hours.

Councilwoman Lisa Goodman, who on Thursday was observing the last day of Passover, stated that there are no legal limitations on the Jewish call to prayer, which is typically spoken rather than broadcast.

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

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As the first major American city to permit the announcement, or "adhan," to be heard over speakers five times a day, year-round, Minneapolis will permit the broadcast of the Muslim call to prayer at all hours.

As the first major American city to permit the announcement, or "adhan," to be heard over speakers five times a day, year-round, Minneapolis will permit the broadcast of the Muslim call to prayer at all hours. The Minneapolis City Council overwhelmingly decided on Thursday to change the city's noise ordinance, which had barred morning and late-evening calls at specific times of the year owing to noise limits, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune. The decision took place during the holy month of Ramadan for Muslims. “The Constitution doesn’t sleep at night,” said Jaylani Hussein, executive director of the Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, after the vote. He said the action in Minneapolis shows the world that a “nation founded on freedom of religion makes good on its promise.” Since at least the 1990s, a significant portion of East African immigrants have lived in Minneapolis, where mosques are now commonplace. No organised community resistance was raised to the decision. Next week, it is anticipated that Mayor Jacob Frey will sign the bill. “Minneapolis has become a city for all religions,” Imam Mohammed Dukuly of Masjid An-Nur mosque in Minneapolis told the Associated press, who was among several Muslim leaders who witnessed the vote. ALSO WATCH | US court confined Mifepristone use to seven weeks of pregnancy In order to allow the adhan to be broadcast outdoors five times per day during Ramadan, city officials collaborated with the Dar Al-Hijrah mosque three years ago. When light first comes in the morning, at midday, in the middle to late afternoon, at sunset, and when the night sky appears, prayers are performed. Summertime sunrise in Minnesota can come as early as 5:30 a.m., and the solstice sunset occurs after 9 p.m. Last year, the city permitted broadcasts all year long, but only from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., eliminating early morning and occasionally late night prayer. ALSO READ | Pentagon leak: US President Biden says investigation will examine why leaker had classified access Jewish and Christian leaders who recently attended a public meeting supported extending the adhan's hours. Councilwoman Lisa Goodman, who on Thursday was observing the last day of Passover, stated that there are no legal limitations on the Jewish call to prayer, which is typically spoken rather than broadcast. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Minneapolis becomes first US city to allow broadcast of Islamic call to prayer at all hours

It is 4:30 am and Mufeed Shawana is rushing to Al-Aqsa Mosque, as the first Muslim call to prayer of the day rings out across the Old City of east Jerusalem.

But he stops short when asked how he feels that the sound echoing from the minarets could soon be dampened.

&quot;It upsets me. The calls to prayer have happened for 1,400 years.&quot;

A bill backed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to ban mosques around Israel and annexed east Jerusalem from using loudspeakers to amplify late night and early morning azans, or calls to prayers, has been approved by a ministerial committee ahead of a parliamentary debate and voting.

It has been temporarily blocked but the government is still confident of pushing it through.

Shawana argues that nobody would deny Jews their own religious rituals, which are &quot;their right&quot;.

&quot;This is our right,&quot; he adds, before disappearing inside the mosque to pray.

The dispute around high-decibel minarets is not unique to Israel, which argues that other states, including in Europe and North Africa, have similar restrictions to those it is looking to implement.

But it has touched a raw nerve in Israel, where many in its minority Arab population -- around 17.5 per cent of the whole and overwhelmingly Muslim -- believe Netanyahu&#39;s rightwing government is systematically persecuting them.

They also worry that their connection to Al-Aqsa, the third holiest site in Islam, is under threat.

Large numbers of Israeli Jews view the azans as noise pollution, with the bill&#39;s sponsor Motti Yogev, of the far-right Jewish Home party, arguing they disturb the peace of hundreds of thousands of people.

He has also claimed that in some cases they are used by religious leaders to incite against Israel.

In its current draft, the law would prevent the summons to worshippers between 11:00 pm until 6:00 am from being relayed on loudspeakers.

Palestinians and Arab Israelis have organised protests against the ban, with an Arab Israeli MP performing the azan in Israel&#39;s parliament to the fury of some of his Jewish colleagues.

Government watchdogs call the bill a threat to religious freedom and the Arab League has termed it &quot;a very dangerous provocation&quot;.

Arab Israelis, who largely identify as Palestinians, are the descendants of Palestinians who remained on their land after the creation of the state of Israel in 1948.

&#39;Terrible noise&#39;&nbsp;

Beit Safafa in southern Jerusalem is an Arab village flanked by Jewish neighbourhoods, including the area of Pat, a few hundred metres (yards) away.

In a passionate sermon at Beit Safafa&#39;s mosque, Najih Qiraat, a religious leader from Al-Aqsa visiting for the weekly Friday prayers, railed against the Israeli plans.

&quot;It is very clear the Israeli occupation with this law, or the attempt at this law, wants to Judaise the city. They don&#39;t want to hear Arabic prayers in the city, they don&#39;t want to see churches in the city,&quot; he later told AFP.

&quot;The prayers represent a racket but the Israeli Jewish celebrations, celebrations at night you hear until dawn, they don&#39;t represent a racket?&quot; he asked.

For Israelis in Pat, turning the volume down is only fair and they accuse the Palestinians of being unreasonable.

&quot;We are a Jewish neighbourhood next to an Arab village -- the noise is terrible. I have a little kid who cannot sleep,&quot; said Ayelet Sadeh, 42.

Just like Qiraat and Shawana, she sees calculated malice rather than cultural misunderstanding behind the actions of the other side.

She points to the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur, when life in Israel grinds to a standstill for a day, as an example &nbsp;-- pointing out Muslim prayers also continue on that day.

&quot;Sometimes,&quot; she said, &quot;it feels like they are doing (it out of) spite.&quot;

Al-Aqsa

Health Minister Yaakov Litzman of the ultra-Orthodox party United Torah Judaism blocked the bill as he was worried it would silence the weekly siren alerting Jews to the start of the Sabbath, or holy day.

An Israeli official told AFP the authorities were confident they&#39;d find a way to pass the bill &quot;while protecting religious freedom for all and the right of all to be free from excessive noise&quot;.

There are more than 400 mosques in the country, including east Jerusalem, according to Israeli government figures, and implementing any law could be tough.

&quot;Forbidden fruit is sweet,&quot; Qiraat said, suggesting Muslims would organise loud prayer calls from homes.

&quot;If they ban the prayers, every house will become a prayer house -- every house will pray, every person,&quot; he said.

&quot;Day and night, until the occupation understands they cannot interfere in religious issues.&quot;

(AFP)

The move has caused Israel's minority Arab population to believe Netanyahu's rightwing government is systematically persecuting them

It is 4:30 am and Mufeed Shawana is rushing to Al-Aqsa Mosque, as the first Muslim call to prayer of the day rings out across the Old City of east Jerusalem. But he stops short when asked how he feels that the sound echoing from the minarets could soon be dampened. "It upsets me. The calls to prayer have happened for 1,400 years." A bill backed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to ban mosques around Israel and annexed east Jerusalem from using loudspeakers to amplify late night and early morning azans, or calls to prayers, has been approved by a ministerial committee ahead of a parliamentary debate and voting. It has been temporarily blocked but the government is still confident of pushing it through. Shawana argues that nobody would deny Jews their own religious rituals, which are "their right". "This is our right," he adds, before disappearing inside the mosque to pray. The dispute around high-decibel minarets is not unique to Israel, which argues that other states, including in Europe and North Africa, have similar restrictions to those it is looking to implement. But it has touched a raw nerve in Israel, where many in its minority Arab population -- around 17.5 per cent of the whole and overwhelmingly Muslim -- believe Netanyahu's rightwing government is systematically persecuting them. They also worry that their connection to Al-Aqsa, the third holiest site in Islam, is under threat. Large numbers of Israeli Jews view the azans as noise pollution, with the bill's sponsor Motti Yogev, of the far-right Jewish Home party, arguing they disturb the peace of hundreds of thousands of people. He has also claimed that in some cases they are used by religious leaders to incite against Israel. In its current draft, the law would prevent the summons to worshippers between 11:00 pm until 6:00 am from being relayed on loudspeakers. Palestinians and Arab Israelis have organised protests against the ban, with an Arab Israeli MP performing the azan in Israel's parliament to the fury of some of his Jewish colleagues. Government watchdogs call the bill a threat to religious freedom and the Arab League has termed it "a very dangerous provocation". Arab Israelis, who largely identify as Palestinians, are the descendants of Palestinians who remained on their land after the creation of the state of Israel in 1948. 'Terrible noise' Beit Safafa in southern Jerusalem is an Arab village flanked by Jewish neighbourhoods, including the area of Pat, a few hundred metres (yards) away. In a passionate sermon at Beit Safafa's mosque, Najih Qiraat, a religious leader from Al-Aqsa visiting for the weekly Friday prayers, railed against the Israeli plans. "It is very clear the Israeli occupation with this law, or the attempt at this law, wants to Judaise the city. They don't want to hear Arabic prayers in the city, they don't want to see churches in the city," he later told AFP. "The prayers represent a racket but the Israeli Jewish celebrations, celebrations at night you hear until dawn, they don't represent a racket?" he asked. For Israelis in Pat, turning the volume down is only fair and they accuse the Palestinians of being unreasonable. "We are a Jewish neighbourhood next to an Arab village -- the noise is terrible. I have a little kid who cannot sleep," said Ayelet Sadeh, 42. Just like Qiraat and Shawana, she sees calculated malice rather than cultural misunderstanding behind the actions of the other side. She points to the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur, when life in Israel grinds to a standstill for a day, as an example -- pointing out Muslim prayers also continue on that day. "Sometimes," she said, "it feels like they are doing (it out of) spite." Al-Aqsa Health Minister Yaakov Litzman of the ultra-Orthodox party United Torah Judaism blocked the bill as he was worried it would silence the weekly siren alerting Jews to the start of the Sabbath, or holy day. An Israeli official told AFP the authorities were confident they'd find a way to pass the bill "while protecting religious freedom for all and the right of all to be free from excessive noise". There are more than 400 mosques in the country, including east Jerusalem, according to Israeli government figures, and implementing any law could be tough. "Forbidden fruit is sweet," Qiraat said, suggesting Muslims would organise loud prayer calls from homes. "If they ban the prayers, every house will become a prayer house -- every house will pray, every person," he said. "Day and night, until the occupation understands they cannot interfere in religious issues." (AFP)

Bid to quieten Muslim call to prayer amplifies Israel tensions

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