ISRAELI OFFICIAL HALTING ADHAN IN HAIFA

Nazareth, Palestine, 16 Rabi’ul Akhir 1435/16 February 2014 (MINA) – A state of tension has prevailed in the 1948 occupied lands over an Israeli official’s call for halting Adhan (Islam’s call to prayer) in Haifa.

During a meeting held by the Israeli municipal council, Haifa deputy mayor Julia Shtraim called for banning Adhan in mosques throughout the city, claiming that the number of wild boars’ increased in the city and there is no need for “any additional noise” in reference to Adhan.

Second deputy mayor of Haifa Suhail Assad, in turn, considered Shtraim’s statements racist and stupid comments, demanding an apology for such remarks, Palestinian Information Center reported as cited by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)

He stressed that Adhan and church bells have been an integral part of the city for very long centuries..

Representative for the national democratic alliance Jamal Khamis called on the city’s mayor to condemn these racist statements and to dismiss Shtraim from her position.

For its part, the Islamic Movement in Haifa stated that these statements came as part of Israeli war against Islam and as a prelude to the confiscation of the mosques’ loudspeakers.

The Islamic Movement stressed that Adhan would continue at mosques despite desperate attempts to silence it.

Many Israeli officials have tried repeatedly to forbid mosque from using loudspeakers. (T/P03/P04)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)