Plans to broadcast the Islamic call to prayer over loudspeakers from Sydney’s largest mosque have hit a major hurdle, with Canterbury-Bankstown Council recommending the proposal be rejected.
The $22,690 application, lodged by the Lebanese Muslim Association, sought approval to install four speakers on the 20-metre minaret of the Lakemba Mosque to project the Islamic call to prayer every Friday for up to 15 minutes.
While the proposal drew mixed reactions, strong objections from local residents such as Michael Lakkis dominated public submissions.
The Council’s Local Planning Panel met on Monday night to review the application and the recommendation for refusal.
Speaking at Monday night’s panel meeting, Lakkis argued the issue was about noise, not religious attendance.
“It’s not an issue of restriction of attendance, it’s a restriction of noise emanating from a particular area,” he said. “Are the members of the council aware of restrictions placed on churches and the bell ringing? It’s been limited or nullified.”
He also questioned whether the council would “pay residents for any shortfall in the devaluation of their properties.”
The panel’s final decision is expected to be confirmed and made public later this week.
Source: Daily Telegraph.
