No more Azaan? Israeli minister's calls to ban mosque loudspeakers fuel communal tensions

World News: Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir has directed police to prohibit the use of loudspeakers in mosques for broadcasting the azaan, (the Islamic call to prayer). He stated that this ban aims to eliminate 'unreasonable noise from mosques, which has become a hazard for Israeli residents.' In a video statement, Ben Gvir expressed his commitment to the policy, saying he received numerous complaints from residents who felt relieved by the decision. He warned opposition leaders Ahmad Tibi, Ayman Odeh, and Mansour Abbas not to threaten the State of Israel with violence.

Palestinian Organization Condemns the Ban

The Palestinian National Council condemned the ban as a 'crime' against mosques and an assault on religious freedom guaranteed by international laws. They described it as a flagrant attack on holy sites and an attempt to entrench racism, emphasizing that the policy aims to marginalize Palestinians, whom they refer to as "the true owners of the land."

Israeli Opposition Leaders Criticize Decision

The policy has faced backlash from Israeli opposition leaders. Knesset member Gilad Kariv labeled Ben Gvir's actions as dangerous, warning that it 'endangers the State of Israel' and risks inflaming tensions. Mansour Abbas accused Ben Gvir of provoking divisions within society after failing to incite violence at Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa Mosque, stating that he is 'constantly trying to sabotage coexistence.'

Global Criticism and Calls for Action

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has also condemned the policy, framing it as part of a broader 'war on Islam and Christianity' by the Israeli government. CAIR's National Executive Director Nihad Awad called for Muslim-majority nations to take collective action against what he described as a 'campaign to erase Palestinian culture'.