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Israel

Loudspeaker ban will 'single out mosques'

November 17, 2016 11:32
17112016 mosque

By

Anshel Pfeffer,

Anshel Pfeffer

1 min read

The Israeli government will support legislation prohibiting mosques from using loudspeakers to call worshippers to prayer.

The amendment to the law preventing noise disturbances defines "a strong or unreasonable noise" from a loudspeaker positioned in "a house of prayer", and has drawn strong criticism from Arab members of the Knesset and from strictly Orthodox ministers.

The cabinet legislation committee voted in favour of supporting the private bill sponsored by coalition MKs.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has also endorsed the law. He said: "Israel is committed to freedom of worship for all religions but is also committed to protecting citizens from noise.

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