New York City allows mosques to broadcast call to prayer

New York City has launched a new initiative to support and facilitate the spread of the call to prayer, or azan, by the city’s mosques, on Fridays as well as during the evening prayers of the month of Ramadan. A decision that promotes a spirit of inclusion, according to Mayor Eric Adams.

“We want our Muslim brothers and sisters to know that they are free to live their faith in New York, because now under the law we will all be treated the same. Our administration is proud to have finally achieved this result,” said the city’s mayor in a statement relayed on the New York City website. Police Commissioner Edward Caban hailed a fundamental step forward “for religious freedom, understanding, lasting peace and prosperity for all”.

The new directives will allow mosques to broadcast the call to prayer between 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 a.m. every Friday, without having to request a specific permit in the face of sound restrictions in force in different districts of the city. They will also allow the broadcast of the azan – between 3 and 5 minutes – during Maghreb prayers each day of the holy month of Ramadan, calling for the breaking of the fast at sunset.

The Orient By Day