A contentious proposal by Lakemba Mosque in Sydney to install loudspeakers for its weekly call to prayer has ignited a fierce debate among local councillors, with one suggesting that concerned residents simply "close their windows."
The Lebanese Muslim Association (LMA) has submitted amended plans to the Canterbury-Bankstown Council to mount four speakers on the mosque's minaret tower, broadcasting for 15 minutes each Friday before lunchtime prayers. This follows an earlier rejection of a similar application by the local planning panel, which cited concerns about noise, building height, property values, and religious considerations.
The LMA maintains the proposed broadcast will have no significant impact on nearby properties. However, over 1,600 submissions have been lodged in objection to the amended plan, leading to heated exchanges during a recent council meeting.
Independent councillor Barbara Coorey proposed a motion for stricter regulations on external sound amplification at all places of worship, excluding designated special religious or cultural occasions. In response, Councillor Khal Asfour, who also serves as CEO of the LMA, introduced a counter-motion advocating for the allowance of church bells on days other than major religious holidays, drawing parallels to long-standing traditions in various faiths.
During the debate, independent councillor Saud Abu-Samen, opposing Cr Coorey's motion, suggested that residents bothered by the sound "close their windows." This remark was met with laughter from some councillors but was defended by Cr Abu-Samen as a matter of religious freedom.
"If you're really annoyed about the bell or about the sound, close your windows," Cr Abu-Samen stated, prompting a sharp retort from Cr Coorey. "Well Australia, I hope you're listening, Cr Abu-Samen said close your windows to the bells and calls to prayer... What a great comment," she said, questioning the practicality and adequacy of such a solution.
Cr Coorey's motion was ultimately defeated by a 6-3 vote, while Cr Asfour's counter-motion passed 8-3. Councillors Asfour and Mayor Bilal El-Hayek were absent during the debate on Cr Coorey's motion due to their affiliations with the LMA.
Lakemba Mosque, which attracts thousands of worshippers for weekly prayers and tens of thousands during major religious events like Ramadan, has also filed a petition with over 5,000 signatures in support of its proposal. The council's local planning panel is expected to make the final decision on the mosque's loudspeaker plans at a later date.