News: Europe
Manchester Arena bomber seen praying before attack, staff tell inquiry (LINK ONLY)
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Prayers
Christians
German court quashes ban on mosque’s call to prayer The call to prayer had been banned after a Christian couple complained that it intruded on their religious freedoms. The court ruled that the call to prayer did not violate the rights of those who heard it.
(Deutsche Welle) A court in the western German city of Münster on Wednesday ruled that a local mosque is permitted to perform its Friday call to prayer. It follows an appeal by the town of Oer-Erkenschwick against the prior decision to revoke the mosque’s permission. “Every […]
Academics & Education
Calls for expired Swedish school permits to be axed after ISIS school exploits loophole Romosseskolan school plans to expand into site of former Muslim school shut down amid allegations it hired ISIS fighters as teachers
(National-UAE) Politicians in Sweden are calling for tougher measures on school permits after a controversial school with links to the Muslim Brotherhood exploited a loophole. The Romosseskolan school, which runs Muslim independent schools, sparked controversy when it announced it was expanding into […]
News: Europe
Manchester bomber was seen ‘praying’ at venue before attack (LINK ONLY)
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Converting to Islam
Utah man says he was fired from Cedar City car dealership ‘because I am a Muslim’
(Salt Lake Tribune) A Utah man has filed a federal employment complaint against a Cedar City car dealership, alleging that his supervisors and colleagues harassed and discriminated against him after he converted to Islam. When Allan Goodson was hired as a mechanic […]
Clothing
Muslim woman accuses McDonald’s franchisee of discrimination
(AP) A Muslim woman who worked for a McDonald’s franchisee in Maryland claims managers and co-workers sexually harassed her and subjected her to religious discrimination after she converted to Islam. Diamond Powell, 28, of Baltimore, sued her former employer, Susdewitt Management LLC […]
Academics & Education
Commission rules in favour of 2 Muslim students who wanted prayer at private school Calgary's Webber Academy was fined $26,000 in 2015, Court of Appeal ordered new hearing
(CBC) The Alberta Human Rights Commission tribunal has again ruled in favour of two Muslim students who sought prayer space at a non-denominational private school in Calgary. The tribunal had previously found in 2015 that Webber Academy in southwest Calgary unlawfully discriminated against the […]
Academics & Education
Swedish Islamic school accused of gender segregation takes over building linked to ISIS Romosseskolan school plans to expand into site of former Muslim school shut down amid allegations it hired ISIS fighters as teachers
(National-UAE) A Muslim school in Sweden that sparked controversy earlier this year is set to expand into an education building that was shut down after allegedly employing former ISIS fighters as teachers. The Romosseskolan school, which runs Muslim independent schools, has gained […]
Mosques
Columbus-area mosque begins outdoor broadcasting of prayer call A central Ohio mosque will broadcast the call to prayer for the first time.
(Columbus Dispatch) A central Ohio mosque is trying to pull the community together while making history at the same time. For what is believed to be the first time in Ohio, a call to prayer, also known as Adhan, began being publicly […]
News: Europe
Shein apologises for selling Muslim prayer mats as ‘Greek carpets’
(BBC) Online clothing shop Shein has apologised for selling Muslim prayer mats on its site. The mats sold were labelled as “frilled Greek carpets” and had pictures of the Kabaa on them. The Kabaa is a building in the centre of Mecca, […]
Government & Politics
Parties push to ban calls to prayer in Denmark Venstre politicians say calls to prayer in public places are ‘very disruptive’ in Denmark, but a ban could go against the Constitution
(Copenhagen Post) Several political parties are urging the government to investigate the possibility of banning calls to prayer such as those heard from mosques, arguing that they are “very disruptive.” Venstre, Dansk Folkeparti, Konservative and Nye Borgerlige are presenting a resolution regarding […]
Government & Politics
Coronavirus: Blackburn Eid street prayers a ‘serious lockdown breach’
(BBC) A gathering of worshippers on a street to observe prayers during Eid was a “serious breach” of lockdown measures, a council has said. Footage of the gathering shared online showed a group of men praying in Whalley Range, Blackburn, on Sunday. […]
Government & Politics
Harrow Central Mosque’s plan to broadcast call to prayer faces 18,000-strong petition (LINK ONLY)
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Health & Medicine
Coronavirus: German Ikea car park used for mass Eid prayer
(BBC) An Ikea store near Frankfurt in west Germany handed over its car park to a local mosque for socially-distanced mass prayers and won praise online. Around 800 Muslims prayed in the large outdoor space to mark the end of the holy […]
Government & Politics
Mosques across Britain could sound the call to prayer through loudspeakers (LINK ONLY)
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Health & Medicine
Mosques adapt to coronavirus shutdown by sharing the call to prayer. In Culver City, neighbors said it was too loud
(LA Times) The call to prayer rang out at 7:49 on a Saturday evening as the sky glowed pink from the setting sun. Women in hijabs and masks gazed up at the mosque as the Arabic hymn floated down: Allah is the […]
Christians
Muslims pray in Berlin church to comply with social distancing rules
(Reuters) A Berlin church is hosting Muslims who are unable to fit into their mosque for Friday prayers because of social distancing guidelines. The Dar Assalam mosque in the Neukölln district normally welcomes hundreds of Muslims to its Friday services. But it […]
Government & Politics
Call to prayer played by mosques for the first time in Birmingham (LINK ONLY)
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Health & Medicine
Islamic call to prayer being heard for the first time across Canada
(Canadian Press) The Al Rashid Mosque has stood in Edmonton since 1938, but no one there today can remember ever hearing the daily call to prayer ring out through the loudspeakers. Usually, the musical chant that ushers Muslims into their house of […]
Government & Politics
London mosque to broadcast nightly call to prayer It’s a symbolic gesture to ‘bring comfort to the community’
(CBC) The local Muslim community has been granted permission by the city to broadcast the nightly sunset call to prayer from the London Muslim Mosque for the remainder of Ramadan. Muslims are unable to congregate at the mosque because of physical distancing […]
Health & Medicine
Mosques broadcast call to prayer over loudspeakers to boost morale during Ramadan City approved move that mosques hope will raise spirits during Ramadan despite COVID-19 distancing
(CBC) Some Calgary mosques have begun broadcasting a call to prayer over loudspeakers for the first time, to boost morale over Ramadan since large gatherings have been cancelled due to COVID-19. The Al Madinah Calgary Islamic Assembly was the first to do so from […]
Health & Medicine
Vancouver’s oldest mosque to broadcast call to prayer for first time in its history Adhan will be broadcast at sunset for remainder of Ramadan to offer sense of community
(CBC) For the first time in its history, the oldest mosque in Vancouver will begin broadcasting its evening call to prayer over loudspeakers for the remainder of Ramadan, in order to provide a sense of community during the pandemic. The azan, or adhan — […]
Holidays
Why the mosque loudspeaker request makes little sense
(Toronto Sun) When Bilal ibn Ribah, the very first muezzin, or Islamic prayer caller, recited the now familiar lines of the azaan, early Muslims rushed to the mosque to offer supplication to Allah. Their homes were near enough for them to hear […]
Government & Politics
Mosque loudspeaker saga continues
(Toronto Sun) Last week when I wrote about a single mosque in Toronto using four loudspeakers to declare “Allah is the Greatest” and that there is “No God, but Allah,” I thought it was the case of one mosque, a few zealots […]
Academics & Education
‘Disturbing, Islamophobic’ tweet about call to prayer prompts firing of Peel school council chair Ravi Hooda says his tweet was 'misinterpreted'; has now also been fired from Remax Canada
(CBC) A “disturbing, [Islamophobic] tweet” on the city of Brampton’s decision to allow mosques to broadcast the call to prayer has prompted the Peel District School Board to remove one of its school council chairs and launch an investigation into comments it […]
Health & Medicine
Windsor Mosque broadcasts call to prayer over loudspeaker for first time, due to COVID-19 pandemic The Islamic call to prayer will be recited live over a loudspeaker around 8:37 p.m. on Tuesday
(CBC) For the first time in its history, the Windsor Islamic Association broadcast the Adhan, or Muslim call to prayer, at sunset over a loudspeaker on the roof of the Windsor Mosque. Mirza Baig, president of the Windsor Islamic Association, said a […]
Government & Politics
Merkel’s party backs public Islamic prayer broadcasts during Ramadan
(Breitbart) Several German parties, including the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) of Chancellor Angela Merkel, have expressed support for allowing public broadcasts of the Islamic call to prayer during Ramadan across Germany. The CDU, Social Democrats (SPD), and Greens have all welcomed granting […]
Government & Politics
Australian city allows Muslim call to prayer in mosques Mosques in Melbourne make gesture of support for Muslims observing Ramadan during COVID-19 pandemic
(Anadolu) The Islamic call to prayer will ring out from two mosques in Melbourne, Australia, throughout Ramadan, the Muslim holy month of fasting. The municipalities of Hume and Dandenong, both home to large Turkish communities, have allowed the call to prayer, or […]
Government & Politics
Mosques get noise exemption for call to prayer during Ramadan Daily broadcast is a short recitation that reminds Muslims to worship God
(CBC) The City of Ottawa is exempting mosques from local noise bylaws during Ramadan to allow them to play a five-minute call to prayer at sundown, as the pandemic prevents people from gathering and hearing it inside. Luqman Ahmed, an imam with Ahmadiyya Muslim […]
Government & Politics
Toronto mosques to broadcast call to prayer during Ramadan amid COVID-19 restrictions City grants permission for 1st time to mosques to put call to prayer over loudspeaker
(CBC) Ramadan is looking a lot different for Muslims across the globe due to physical distancing restrictions placed upon the holy month by the COVID-19 pandemic. And things are no different for the nearly half a million people who follow Islam in […]
Holidays
During COVID-19, the Islamic call to prayer suddenly blares
(Toronto Sun) Almost two years ago, Toronto’s Danforth Ave. made headlines across the world when one Faisal Hussain killed two people and wounded 13 others before committing suicide. Well, Danforth Ave. is back in the news. This time it’s the blaring of […]
Crime
Halifax mosques to broadcast Islamic call to prayer as a show of unity, solidarity
(Global News) Many Nova Scotians have paid tribute to the 22 people who were killed in the April 18-19 shooting rampage through music or vigils. Now, the Muslim community in Halifax is also showing its solidarity by broadcasting the adhan. This special […]
Holidays
Minneapolis mosque publicly broadcasts historic call to prayer during Ramadan
(KMSP) Thursday night marked the first publicly broadcast call to prayer, or “Adhan,” in Minnesota. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey approved a permit for Dar [Al-Hijrah] mosque in Minneapolis to play the call to prayer publicly five times a day during the month […]
Academics & Education
Education Department told to apologise to Muslim family over school’s prayers bungle
(ABC-Australia) South Australia’s Department for Education has been ordered to apologise to a Muslim family over an Adelaide public school’s handling of their attendance of Friday prayers during teaching hours. State ombudsman Wayne Lines has released the findings of an investigation into […]
Government & Politics
Call to prayer to be broadcast in Cedar-Riverside during Ramadan in Minneapolis
(KMSP) To allow Minneapolis residents to pray together during Ramadan while maintaining social distance during the coronavirus pandemic, Adhan — the call to prayer — will be played over a loudspeaker in the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood five times per day for the duration […]
Health & Medicine
COVID-19: Call to prayer gesture in heart of Europe Adhan or call to prayer chanted from loudspeakers at mosques in Germany, the Netherlands
(Anadolu) Nearly 100 mosques in Germany and the Netherlands on Friday rang out with the sound of the call to prayer, as a gesture of support for Muslims amid the coronavirus pandemic. The call to prayer (adhan) was chanted from mosques belonging […]
Clerics & Preachers
Muslim prayers to be broadcast on BBC Local Radio stations
(Asian Image) Muslims unable to visit their mosques during the coronavirus crisis can tune into their local BBC station. Qari Asim MBE, a senior imam in Leeds, will lead reflections on 14 stations at 5.50am. This will become a weekly spot, led […]
Clerics & Preachers
Some Toronto-area mosques remain open despite dire warnings about COVID-19 Group of imams disappointed worshippers are still gathering, despite calls for people to stay home
(CBC) A group of Ontario imams and Islamic scholars is fighting an uphill battle to convince management at a handful of Toronto-area mosques to completely shutter their doors. They say that while a majority of mosques are closed — some a whole week […]
Government & Politics
Rep. Tlaib retweets: ‘F**k a national day of prayer’
(CNS) Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) at the weekend retweeted a post on Twitter which said in part “F**k a National day of prayer,” in relation to President Trump’s call for Americans of all faiths to pray for all those affected by the […]
Government & Politics
After divisive public hearing, Paterson passes law allowing Islamic call to prayer
(Paterson Times) After a lengthy and divisive public hearing, the City Council passed an ordinance allowing the broadcast of the adhan or the Islamic call to prayer. Council members voted 5-4 to adopt the ordinance following a more than two-hour-long public hearing. […]
Government & Politics
Paterson grants preliminary approval to measure allowing Islamic call to prayer
(Paterson Times) An ordinance allowing mosques to broadcast the adhan or Islamic call to prayer received preliminary approval from the City Council on Tuesday night. Council members voted 7-0-2 to approve a revised noise ordinance presented by councilman Shahin Khalique. The ordinance […]
Government & Politics
Muslim group urges Paterson to pass measure allowing Islamic call to prayer
(Paterson Times) The New Jersey chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the largest Muslim civil liberties organization in the U.S., on Tuesday afternoon urged members of the City Council to pass the proposed ordinance allowing mosques to broadcast the adhan […]
Government & Politics
Paterson ordinance will let mosques broadcast Muslim call to prayer
(Paterson Times) A proposed ordinance before the City Council will allow mosques in Paterson to broadcast the Adhan or the Muslim call to prayer. Under the ordinance, mosques will be allowed to use loudspeakers to announce the call to prayer during a […]
Children & Teens
Judge complains after being left to wait while Muslim defendant went to pray (LINK ONLY)
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Legal
Federal Bureau of Prisons loosens limits on Muslim inmates’ prayer
(Religion News) The Federal Bureau of Prisons has issued new national guidelines recommending accommodation of group prayer for Muslim prisoners after an inmate’s lawsuit challenging restrictions at a Kentucky prison. The agency has recommended that all federal prisons should accommodate inmates’ requests […]
Internet
Muslim militant shares image on Facebook of AK-47 on prayer mat after release from prison (LINK ONLY)
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Mosques
Muslim call for prayer recited first time in Amsterdam Dutch capital hears Adhaan on loudspeakers for Friday prayers
(Anadolu) The Muslim call for prayer was recited Friday on loudspeakers for the first time in Amsterdam, according to a mosque official. The Blue Mosque had originally planned the Adhaan last Friday, but the cable of the audio system was cut by […]
Mosques
‘Sabotage’: Amsterdam mosque alleges prayer call audio cable intentionally cut
(NL Times) The leader of an Amsterdam mosque believes someone with bad intentions deliberately sliced an audio cable on the building’s rooftop to prevent the religious group’s first call-to-prayer from being amplified by an outdoor loudspeaker. The Blauw Moskee was set to […]
Clerics & Preachers
Greece: Elected Muslim religious leader gets prison Elected mufti of Komotini Ibrahim Serif to serve 80 days in jail for usurping authority
(Anadolu) An elected Muslim religious leader in Greece’s Western Thrace region was given 80 days of prison sentence for usurping authority. Ibrahim Serif is the elected mufti of Komotini (Gumulcine) which is one of the three major cities of the Western Thrace […]
Government & Politics
Amplified call to prayer unnecessary in a time of apps, says Amsterdam mayor
(Dutch News) Amsterdam mayor Femke Halsema says she shares the “lack of enthusiasm” with the city council for plans by a mosque in Nieuw West to become the first in the Dutch capital to call worshippers to Friday prayers using loudspeakers. During […]