(Staff article from the Visegrad24 on 09 November 2026.)
A council in Western Sydney has
rejected a proposal by Australia’s largest mosque to broadcast the Islamic call
to prayer over loudspeakers every Friday.
Lakemba Mosque, run by the Lebanese
Muslim Association, wanted permission to broadcast the call to prayer for 15
minutes once a week using four loudspeakers. The proposal triggered major
opposition, with more than 1,600 submissions lodged against it.
Independent councilor Saud
Abu-Sameh, who supported the proposal, told residents concerned about the
sound: “If you're really annoyed about the bell or about the sound, close your
windows.”
Lakemba Mosque wants to install four loudspeakers to its minaret so it can broadcast a Muslim call to prayer across the local area every Friday. They lodged an application with Canterbury-Bankstown Council last month, arguing the prayer call should be allowed because the suburb was 61.2% Muslim and 68% of residents were born overseas.
Petition for No Public Broadcasts of Muslim Call to Prayer in Australia
Planning documents comparred the midday Friday prayer call to Catholic in hurch bells, and describes the loudspeakers as “a simple addition to the existing Mosque that will meet the religious needs of the Muslim community in the Lakemba region“. When was the last time you heard church bells in your local area?
“The main objective of the proposal
to provide a local call of prayer for Lakemba Mosque to create a cultural and
Islamic sense of community within the context of the mosque and its surrounds,”
the documents state.
The plans also include a
translation of the prayer call, which the mosque wants played for 15 minutes.
An acoustic report prepared by the mosque found noise levels from the prayer
call are expected to reach 81 decibels at neighbouring commercial properties,
between 63 and 68 at residential properties, and an estimated 62 inside a
proposed school classroom.
“Some people may welcome this call
to prayer, others may not. The call to prayer is intended to be heard
throughout the community,” the report authors wrote in response to a checklist
from the EPA Noise Guide for Local Government. But the report found that the
noise generated will not be considered offensive, and would comply with EPA
noise policy criteria as long as their recommendations on speaker installation
were followed.
We are gradually being blind-sided and losing our identity. This broadcast is simply not necessary & puts one religion above others & we personally think it's offensive. It will also initiate further pushing of the boundaries if this is allowed to proceed.
As
Australians, we take pride in our cultural heritage that is built upon a rich
tapestry of traditions and values. Yet, we now face a challenge that threatens
to alter the auditory landscape of our communities. The submission by the
Lakemba mosque to allow the public broadcast of the Muslim call to prayer has
sparked deep concern among many citizens.
Our cities and neighbourhoods
thrive on diversity, but it is essential to maintain a balance that respects
the essence of all cultural communities. While freedom of religion is a
fundamental right, it should coexist with the collective values of our society.
The public broadcast of a specific religious call to prayer disrupts this
balance by imposing a singular religious expression on diverse auditory space
shared by all.
Moreover, examples from other
nations show that such practices have led to tensions and division within
communities. In the Netherlands and parts of Sweden, public concerns have been
raised over noise levels and the potential marginalization of non-Muslim
residents.
Alternatives exist that respect
religious freedom without disturbing communal harmony. Mosques can continue to
call their followers to prayer through modern means such as phone apps, text
messages, or indoor speakers that do not extend into the broader public sphere.
Australia is home to people from
myriad backgrounds, and it is crucial to let each individual experience their
cultural and religious practices within a framework of mutual respect and
non-intrusion. Our shared spaces should echo with the harmonious coexistence of
all, rather than one voice overwhelming others.
Sign this petition to urge local
and federal leaders to prohibit the public broadcasting of any religious calls
to prayer from places of worship in Australia. Together, we can preserve the
identity of our communal spaces while respecting the diversity that defines us.
