MicroWave

Muslim call to prayer can now be broadcast publicly in New York City without a permit

https://lemmy.world/post/4130714

Muslim call to prayer can now be broadcast publicly in New York City without a permit - Lemmy.world

The Muslim call to prayer will ring out more freely in New York City under guidelines announced Tuesday by Mayor Eric Adams, which he said should foster a spirit of inclusivity. Under the new rules, Adams said, mosques will not need a special permit to publicly broadcast the Islamic call to prayer, or adhan, on Fridays and at sundown during the holy month of Ramadan. Friday is the traditional Islamic holy day, and Muslims break their fast at sunset during Ramadan. The police department’s community affairs bureau will work with mosques to communicate the new guidelines and ensure that devices used to broadcast the adhan are set to appropriate decibel levels, Adams said. Houses of worship can broadcast up to 10 decibels over the ambient sound level, the mayor’s office said.

Aug 30, 2023 at 11:05amWeb
Show threadPons_AeliusAug 30, 2023

Houses of worship can broadcast up to 10 decibels over the ambient sound level

10db may not sound like much but a sound 10db louder sounds twice as loud to the human ear.

Show threadnelsonslamentAug 30, 2023
Damn logarithms!
Show threadSuddenDownpourAug 30, 2023

To put it into perspective, 10db is the difference between a motorcycle and a rock concert.

Source.

Show threadCrayonRosaryAug 31, 2023
That doesn’t put it in perspective at all. Both of those things are very loud. Ambient noise in NYC is kind of medium to low, depending on time of day and exact location. What does 10 dB above the ambient noise at 4:30 AM sound like? The double of a mere hum is a louder hum.
Show threaddiprount_tomatoAug 30, 2023
The ambient sound level… OF FUCKING NEW YORK
Show threadmegalodonAug 30, 2023
I find the call to prayer more offensive than inclusive
Show threaddownvoteeAug 30, 2023
You will hear it and you will like it.
Show threadCleverdawnyAug 30, 2023
To me it sounds like a particularly angry donkey
Show thread790Aug 31, 2023
The German word for actions like that is “Konfrontative Religionsbekundung”. My layman translation would be “confrontational exhibition of religious faith”.
Show threadJaywarbsAug 30, 2023
We hear church bells all the time, so this seems reasonable.
Show threadli10Aug 30, 2023

Are they using bells then?

I’d be annoyed if I lived near a Christian church that had a megaphone telling people to come pray, but bells at least seem less intrusive.

Show threadFlying SquidAug 30, 2023
Less intrusive? They’re ridiculously loud.
Show threadSuddenDownpourAug 30, 2023
Do you know what’s not loud? Configuring alarms in your phone. Wonder if these people have thought about it.
Show threadFlying SquidAug 30, 2023
Fine with me. I’d be happy if both church bells and calls to prayer weren’t allowed.
Show threadSuddenDownpourAug 30, 2023
Agreed.
Show threaddiprount_tomatoAug 30, 2023
Only the Internationale blasted 24/7, right?
Show threadPons_AeliusAug 30, 2023
Nah. Just some peace and quite.
Show threadFlying SquidAug 30, 2023
No. Why would you even think that? What a silly thing to say.
Show threadli10Aug 30, 2023

Maybe just personal preference for me then, but I find it’s easier to ignore as it registers as background noise.

Someone blasting music or a speech would absolutely drive me up the wall though.

Show threadFlying SquidAug 30, 2023
I’m wondering if you grew up hearing them and that’s why. You’re far more likely to tune out an intrusive noise that you’re very used to.
Show threadBernie EcclestonedAug 30, 2023
Both are annoying mind control techniques
Show threadSkullgridAug 30, 2023
Ow the edge
Show threaddiprount_tomatoAug 30, 2023
Oh yes, the mind control rays that turn the anal religion antenna on to make you follow evil beliefs
Show threadBernie EcclestonedAug 30, 2023

In the Middle Ages, bells were thought to have supernatural powers. During the 7th century it is said that the Bishop of Aurelia rang the bells to warn people of an attack. When the enemy heard them, they were said to have fled in fear. The people credited the bells with having saved them. In a world with little man-made noise, the sound of bells was not only majestic, but could be deeply fearful

Where does fear occur?

Show threaddiprount_tomatoAug 30, 2023
What does this prove?
Show threadBernie EcclestonedAug 30, 2023

If you don’t think religion and all its trappings are mind control that’s up to you I guess.

Sky daddy will be sad if you don’t love him and will punish you for eternity

psychologytoday.com/…/how-religious-fundamentalis…

How Religious Fundamentalism Hijacks the Brain

Fundamentalist ideologies act like mental parasites.

Psychology Today
Show threaddiprount_tomatoAug 30, 2023
The word “skydaddy” detected, the opinion of an edgy Reddit atheist rejected
Show threadBernie EcclestonedAug 30, 2023
I think it’s edgier to be religious tbh. Being an atheist online is like preaching to the choir…
Show threaddiprount_tomatoAug 30, 2023

Being an atheist is literally following the current trend while claiming to be “super rebellious”

That’s edgy as hell

Show threadBernie EcclestonedAug 30, 2023
But not as edgy as an edge lord
Show threadCeruleanRuinSep 4, 2023
Yes, unironically though.
Show threadPons_AeliusAug 30, 2023
I lived next door to a church for a while, it was a fucking nightmare.
Show threadCobblerScholarAug 30, 2023
I find Jehovas Witnesses and Mormons more annoying than an Adhan ever would be
Show threadsnooggumsAug 30, 2023
We could just make that illegal too instead.
Show threadMadison420Aug 30, 2023
Church bells originally existed for a purpose though and that was to strike the hour and ring alarm. Iirc the call to prayer can be used to tell time but like once or twice a day at best.
Show threadGreenMarioAug 30, 2023
We have watches now.
Show threadMadison420Aug 30, 2023
Correct, I’m just saying that’s why bells are still allowed to ring without regards to sound ordinance.
Show threadteftAug 30, 2023
You can’t set a watch by prayer times unless you have a prayer time table for your locality. Because the start and end times for prayers are related to the solar diurnal motion, they vary throughout the year and depend on the local latitude and longitude when expressed in local time.
Show threadMadison420Aug 30, 2023
Correct, though if your familiar with the area it’s a pretty good way to find out what time it is. Bells just do it better.
Show threadGreenMarioAug 30, 2023
God: it’s 4:34:43 AM EST and oh whoops you didn’t get your prayer rug out on time. That one’s going straight to hell. Crosses name out on clipboard
Show threadME5SENGER_24Aug 30, 2023
Glad church bells were the top comment… I grew up across the street from a church and I cannot say this loud enough FUCK CHURCH BELLS!! Ban them both, if you need to be called to pray or told what time it is buy a smartphone and set a reminder.
Show threadGreenMarioAug 30, 2023
Both should be banned.
Show threadMr_BlottAug 30, 2023

See I live in a wee village and despite my non- religiousness, the church bells are absolutely lovely.

I’d like to know if Muslims find the call to prayer a nice sound

Show threadGreenMarioAug 30, 2023
I’m under the impression it’s them shouting in a megaphone.
Show threadHacksawAug 30, 2023

That’s the argument that all the “Muslims shouldn’t have extra privileges” miss.

No one should have extra privileges, but we can’t take away church bells because of all the Christians would cry foul, so we’re stuck giving more religions the right to make excess noise everytime they ask because otherwise it’s discrimination.

Show threadCleverdawnyAug 30, 2023

Caterwauling over a loudspeaker is much more disruptive and annoying than a bell and I don’t care who is caterwauling or ringing the bell

But honestly, yeah, apply all noise limits to everyone in the same way. If a bell is being rung during quiet hours and it’s too loud, then hit the church with a violation.

Show threadHacksawAug 30, 2023

Look, you let one group be loud, you let all similar groups be loud. You don’t get to choose based on who you like or who makes a sound you like. Fair is fair.

I’d rather peace and quiet thank you very much, if I can’t have that, I’d rather fair rules over arbitrary ones.

Show threadCleverdawnyAug 30, 2023
It’s all relative noise levels and how reasonable a noise is. Tbh I’ve never lived somewhere with church bells that make loud noises during night hours like the Muslims do with their call to prayer, but I guess if a church was doing that, I’d support restricting them, too.
Show threadBobitoAug 30, 2023
my thoughts too. id rather not hear either as theres already enough noise pollution to go around, but if ones allowed then the other ought to be as well.
Show threadCeruleanRuinSep 4, 2023
Fuck both.
Show threadxc2215xAug 30, 2023
Good. Muslims deserve it.
Show threadPons_AeliusAug 30, 2023

Why?

This is not an attack on Islam.

Why does one group have the right to blast (a sound 10db louder sounds twice as loud to the human ear.) the neighbourhood with noise?

How does their right to broadcast trump the right of people to have some peace and quiet?

Show threadDickarusAug 30, 2023
No religion deserves anything. Nobody gives a fuck about Muslims and their call to prayer. Get that shit out of here. They’ve done nothing to deserve a call to prayer in the states.
Show threadteftAug 30, 2023

The Muslim call to prayer happens before sunrise, just after noon, late afternoon, just after sunset, and night time.

I think you’re going to have a fuck load of complaining when that bad boy goes off at 4:30 am. I used to live in Mosul and you could hear the imams all across the city. It’s like a giant alarm clock.

Show threadStinkywinksAug 30, 2023
This is some backward ass bullshit. Keep your religious garbage to yourself. Complain about Christians forcing school prayers then have this dumb shit.
Show thread4RYAZAug 30, 2023
Twin towers trauma was well managed. Say goodbye to religious freedom cause now that nuisance will end up in your ears and you can do nothing about it
Show threadAnamnesisAug 30, 2023
Having lived in Bedstuy where a loud Muslim prayer happens every Friday morning, it’s annoying as fuck and should not be exempted from ordinary noise ordinances.
Show threadCthulhuPuddingAug 30, 2023

I lived right next to a Mosque in Kensington (that opened up without a proper permit in a residential zone a year after I purchased my property). They used to broadcast their prayers at ungodly volume. It was loud as hell, would cut through my headphones and ruin any ability I had to do anything, even think straight. I made numerous noise complaints but nothing was ever done by the NYPD. Got so bad that I finally sold the place and moved somewhere dominated by orthodox Jewry just because I knew they’d serve as a bulwark against me ever having to hear any prayers again.

I’m sure that the people who think this is a good idea view it as a simple matter of religious freedom. It is not. My experience was one of having someone else’s religion thrust upon me. Church bells are annoying and loud, but they do not contain actual religiosity. I was always taught that my rights ended when I infringe upon someone else’s rights. Broadcasting prayers so loud it can be heard above the ambient noise in NYC is trampling on my rights to exist free of religion.

Believe whatever you want, but keep it to yourself. I feel awful for everyone who lives near a mosque in NYC.

Show threadMr_BlottAug 30, 2023
When you said Kensington I thought you were a posh cunt called Tarquin but no, apparently not
Show threadSpiralvortexisalieAug 30, 2023
Have you not heard the shabbat siren in Brooklyn ran by orthodox Jews and also run every Friday? They are literal air raid sirens in Williamsburg. https://www.jta.org/jewniverse/2014/brooklyns-weekly-shabbos-air-raid-siren