Hamtramck's Islamic 'Call to Prayer' Up for Vote Tuesday Night
by Chad Groening
April 27, 2004
(AgapePress) - A small Michigan community located completely within the confines of Detroit is expected to give final passage tonight to an ordinance that would allow mosques to broadcast Islamic calls for prayer over loudspeakers. But some local residents are hoping to derail the ordinance.Last week, the Hamtramck City Council gave a unanimous stamp of approval to the first reading of the ordinance -- and tonight's approval of the final reading appears inevitable. The Al-Islah Islamic Center wants to air the Arabic call to prayer via loudspeakers five times a day, but has agreed not to air them between 10:00 at night and 6:00 in the morning. If approved, the ordinance would take effect on May 26. (See Earlier Article)
But one Hamtramck resident has some concerns. Bob Golen is convinced his community is just the beginning. "One of their religious leaders from the Al-Islah Islamic Center states, 'Hamtramck is going to be a pioneer city for the whole United States.' So apparently there is going to be a movement afoot to get that call to prayer everywhere," Golen says.
According to Golen, if the city council approves the new ordinance, opponents will have to obtain 568 signatures to force an August referendum. He believes there are enough votes to overturn the ordinance, despite Hamtramck's large Muslim population, which constitutes about one-third of the local citizenry.
"Although there are that many Muslims, not all of them are citizens," Golen adds. "And I think we still, as Christians, outnumber them in eligible voters."
Golen says the only other option would be to file a federal lawsuit.
