Posted on 01/14/2008 6:55:39 AM PST by Stoat
Outrage: Proposals for a loudspeaker to call Muslims to prayer in central Oxford have been attacked by local residents
Local residents have attacked the idea saying it would disrupt the peace and turn the area into a 'Muslim ghetto'.
But the elders said they still intend to seek planning permission to install the loudspeaker.
If granted, they would broadcast a two-minute long call three times a day from the Central Mosque, where up to 700 people gather to worship every Friday.
The idea has gained support from the Bishop of Oxford, the Rt Rev John Pritchard, who last week said those in opposition to the idea should "relax" and "enjoy community diversity".
But residents, who packed out a council meeting last month to signal their outrage, remain set against the plan which they say is an "un-neighbourly intrusion".
They said they would rally to block the proposal when it is submitted to the council in nine months time, when construction on the mosque is complete.
Dr Allan Chapman, 61, who lives near the building, said: "The response against this has been incredible, we have been indundated with calls ranging from stiff upper lip outrage to sheer screaming fury.
"The universal message is what an utter cheek to inflict this on a non-Muslim area of Oxford. If this application goes forward then a large number of angry people are poised to form an opposition to it."
Dr Chapman added the broadcast is not to comparable to the ringing of church bells because: "They are just a signal. The Muslim call is a theological statement."
Residents have said the main objection is the loud amplification of the broadcast.
Elizabeth Mills, 56, said: "We don't have a problem with the Imam climbing to the top of the minaret and shouting.
"But we object to electronic amplification. The Bishop of Oxford might say it's ok but he doesn't have to listen to it."
Martin Stott, 53, a member of the Oxford Oratory, added: "This is not an anti-Muslim thing, it is more about community cohesion."
A spokesman for the Central Mosque said that sounding the call to prayer is a traditional part of the religion.
Sadar Rana, 68, said: "Building work will take another nine months to a year, it is then that we plan to make an application to the council.
"We want to fix a loudspeak to our minaret to broadcast our call to prayer. We would like to have it three times a day but if that is not accepted, then we would like to have it at least on Fridays.
"We do not need the volume to be loud but we want to have the call in some form because it's our tradition."
They’ve all been rounded up and confiscated in the UK...everything but air rifles. My recommendation would be a .220 Swift.
Did they think the millions of Muslims they invited into their country wouldn’t want to practice Islam?
Same here, I call myself "neighbor of the beast" for living next door to a compound of fundamentalist Muslims.
I hope things are not that far gone in Piqua, birthplace of Buster Keaton!
Exactly our future when there's enough of them here.
I was in Turkey when I heard that stuff. Rednecks in Piqua would take care of that kind of noise, Post Haste!
Holler. It's like town criers and street vendors.
How about broadcasting 5 minutes of Billy Graham across Oxford 5 times a day? The BBC and the PC police in the UK would go nuts.
Exactly. If their religion meant so much to them, they’d do it without being reminded, or nagged, because they wouldn’t forget about it.
This is not the first story in recent days of brits showing some backbone. Wow. Their socialist masters must be absolutely outraged. Serfs aren’t allowed to even HAVE opinions, but to actually stand up and VOICE them. My Marx! What’s this world coming to?
Hmmm...WWMD? If this were a Christian church in a Muslim country, they’d just blow it up...probably on a Sunday morning during worship services to kill the greatest number of “infidels.” Wake up, UK.
Did the city of Detroit, or somewhere up yonder, go thru this same thing? If’n I remember correctly, the city and courts gave the Muzzies permission for this crap right here in the good ole US of A.
Take a look at the ballistics.
Those folks at the meeting have all been recorded by CCTV cams and the tapes will remain on file.....
Preemptive surrender from the C of E. That's probably their response to forcible rape as well.
Yup. And they have NO GUNS with which to defend themselves.
How about public beheadings, you religion-of-piecers.......that's part of your tradition also, isn't it?.
Leni
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Also.....
LOSAT versus BMP personnel Carrier, 720 Meters
Losat versus tank, 3850 Meters
LOSAT versus outhouse, 800 meters
THANKS to FReeper Archy for the excellent LOSAT video links :-)
He very kindly provided them at this FR thread:
Afghanistan Our Boys blitz Taliban bash (Royal Marines spoil celebration of Bhutto assassination)
Anybody starts broadcasting the call to prayer within earshot of me they are going to get The Clash’s “Rocking the Casbah” back VERY VERY LOUD about 5 minutes later. Yes, I have the technology! I suggest Oxfordites act accordingly.
LOL, I have no idea what a “ballistic” is. Last I heard it was a missile of some kind
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