Bahrain renews ban on mosque loudspeakers
Saturday, 14 August 2010
Yateem mosque in Bahrain, located in a busy area in the country's capital, Manama (File)
Bahrain renewed a ban on the use of exterior loudspeakers in
Mosques during prayers, ending a year-long contentious debate on the
religiously sensitive issue in the Kingdom.
The decision was made by the Bahraini Sunni Endowment Department (Awqaf) of the Ministry of Islamic Affairs , which said that the blaring loudspeakers in mosques should not be used for anything other than the traditional Muslim call to prayer.
Prayers are between a person and Allah, and there is
no need to make one's prayers heard by people walking in the streets in
markets
The decision was made by the Bahraini Sunni Endowment Department (Awqaf) of the Ministry of Islamic Affairs , which said that the blaring loudspeakers in mosques should not be used for anything other than the traditional Muslim call to prayer.
Prayers are between a person and Allah, and there is
no need to make one's prayers heard by people walking in the streets in
markets
Mohammed Ali al-Sitri
The religious authorities used SMS text
messaging to instruct all callers to prayer, known as Muezzins, to
respect the ban, but said the move is merely a regulatory one and an
offense is only made if a complaint received.
“Prayers are between a person and Allah, and there is no need to make one's prayers heard by people walking in the streets and in markets,” said Mohammed Ali al-Sitri , the King's Advisor for Legislative Authority Affairs.
Former Member of Parliament Hamad al-Mahindi opposed the ban saying, “There should be a manifestation of God’s rituals during the holy month of Ramadan.”
“There are people that want to hear the prayers through the loudspeaker,” al-Mahindi added.
“Prayers are between a person and Allah, and there is no need to make one's prayers heard by people walking in the streets and in markets,” said Mohammed Ali al-Sitri , the King's Advisor for Legislative Authority Affairs.
Former Member of Parliament Hamad al-Mahindi opposed the ban saying, “There should be a manifestation of God’s rituals during the holy month of Ramadan.”
“There are people that want to hear the prayers through the loudspeaker,” al-Mahindi added.
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