The public muezzin call, which has been allowed as part of a model project at the Cologne Central Mosque of the Turkish-Islamic Union of Institute of Religion (DITIB), may still be heard in the future. After the two-year evaluation period, there has been no violation of the agreed conditions by the mosque community.
Since October 2022, a muezzin has been calling for Friday prayers at the DITIB Central Mosque in Cologne-Ehrenfeld. There was previously much discussion about the loudspeaker call to prayer, as critics saw the DITIB as an extension of the Turkish religious authority in Ankara. The mayor of Cologne, Henriette Reker (non-party), launched the pilot project, which would initially last two years and in which mosque communities in Cologne could participate, with reference to the freedom to practice religion guaranteed in the Basic Law.
The conversation should not last longer than five minutes
However, municipalities had to meet requirements for approval. The conversation should not last longer than five minutes and should not exceed a certain volume. It may be played once on Friday between 12 noon and without repetition. In the case of the Central Mosque, the requirements now apply unchanged and indefinitely.
Many complaints with “content that can be assessed criminally”
According to the city, there was also some negative feedback from citizens, especially early in the project. However, only a few constructive comments were received, the report said. “Many of the emails contain offensive content and statements, including content that could be considered criminal.” After about two weeks the number of letters dropped sharply.
According to the city, the DITIB mosque community is the only mosque community in Cologne that participated in the model project.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
