Lod City Hall is not waiting for the passage of the Muezzin Bill to try to silence the loudspeakers’ call to prayer in mosques. The city has begun handing out fines to mosques for noise pollution in its battle to silence the wailing that accompanies the Muslim call to prayer during the day and night.

Fines of NIS 730 were levied against some mosques in the city for noise pollution.

Opponents accuse the mayor of trying to capitalize on the situation as the bill does not appear to have sufficient support to be passed in Knesset. Supporters praise the move, insisting a mosque can issue a call to prayer but the volume must be lowered since it is bothersome and offensive to hundreds of thousands around the county.

While the city issued the fines, enforcement is another story since the municipality issued them, not police, making enforcement more complicated since if issued by police, it can be enforced as a criminal matter but not in this case.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)