Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir has recently directed the Israeli police to enforce a ban on the use of loudspeakers in mosques for broadcasting the azaan, the Islamic call to prayer. Under this policy, police will be required to confiscate loudspeaker equipment from any mosque found violating the directive, and violators will face significant fines. Ben Gvir has publicly defended this measure, arguing that it would eliminate what he described as "unreasonable noise" coming from mosques, which he claims has become a disturbance for residents living in Israeli cities.
In a statement shared on social media platform X, Ben Gvir stated that his decision was a response to numerous complaints from Israeli citizens who found the loudspeakers intrusive. He cited the importance of ensuring that public spaces maintain a reasonable level of noise, claiming that the noise from mosque loudspeakers was becoming a hazard for the general public. In a video addressing the nation, Ben Gvir stated, "I received dozens of inquiries from residents in the cities involved, who told me explicitly, ‘You are saving us—keep going.’ I have no intention of blinking. I tell Ahmad Tibi, Ayman Odeh, and Mansour Abbas (Israeli opposition leaders) not to threaten the State of Israel with violence. As they do in Europe, as they do in every reformed country in the world, as they do in Arab countries, we also need to address and enforce the issue of noise in mosques."
The policy, which is positioned as an effort to regulate noise pollution, has drawn sharp criticism. Ben Gvir’s office justified the new regulations by pointing to similar measures in Western and Arab countries, where restrictions on public noise are often enforced. The aim, according to his office, is to ensure that noise levels in public spaces are balanced and that public disturbances are minimized. However, critics argue that this policy is part of a broader effort to marginalize the Palestinian population and their religious practices in Israel.
The Palestinian National Council, which is the highest decision-making body for Palestinians, strongly condemned the ban, calling it a "crime" against mosques and an infringement on religious freedoms. The council accused the Israeli government of attempting to undermine Palestinian identity and culture. In a statement, the council called the decision a "blatant attack on holy sites" and suggested that the policy was an attempt to entrench racism in Israel. The council emphasized that such actions would further marginalize Palestinians, whom they described as "the true owners of the land," and could exacerbate tensions in the region.
Israeli opposition leaders have also criticized Ben Gvir's directive, warning that it could have dangerous consequences. Gilad Kariv, a member of the Knesset for the Democrats, expressed his concerns that the policy could heighten tensions between Jewish and Arab communities in Israel and potentially destabilize the region further. Kariv argued that the ban would risk inflaming societal divisions and could exacerbate the already tense situation in Israel, where relations between Jews and Arabs have historically been fraught with tension.
The move has also drawn condemnation from international organizations. The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), a prominent American civil rights group, condemned the policy, accusing the Israeli government of waging a "war on Islam and Christianity." Nihad Awad, the National Executive Director of CAIR, criticized the Israeli government’s actions, claiming that they were part of a broader strategy to suppress Palestinian culture and religious practices. Awad argued that the policy was yet another example of Israeli efforts to erase Palestinian identity and culture. He also called on Muslim-majority countries to take collective action to oppose the Israeli government’s policies. Furthermore, Awad urged the Biden administration to condemn the actions of the Israeli government and to stop providing military support to Israel, accusing the U.S. of enabling the Israeli government to perpetuate what he described as a "genocide" against the Palestinian people.
The controversy surrounding the ban on loudspeakers for the azaan in mosques highlights the complex and deeply rooted issues in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Critics of the policy view it as part of a wider trend of discrimination against Palestinian citizens of Israel and an attempt to erode their religious and cultural rights. Supporters, on the other hand, argue that it is a necessary step to ensure the well-being and peace of Israeli residents and to regulate public noise. The situation underscores the growing tensions in Israel, especially with respect to the treatment of its Palestinian citizens and their religious freedoms.
This policy also raises broader questions about the relationship between religion, politics, and state power in Israel, and whether it reflects a broader shift toward policies that suppress Palestinian expression and identity. The decision has prompted debates not only within Israel but also on the international stage, where the treatment of Palestinian religious and cultural practices continues to be a significant point of contention.
