Indian High Court rejects lawsuit to ban ‘Muslim Call to Prayer’ on loudspeakers

The Karnataka High Court, in southern India, has rejected a lawsuit to ban loudspeakers from mosques in the state.

The court confirmed that the call to prayer does not infringe on the religious freedom of other religions, contrary to what some Hindu parties hold.

The plaintiff claimed that the phrase “Allah Akbar” caused harm to the feelings of people of other Indian religions that have beliefs different from the Islamic faith.

The court based its decision on Articles 25 and 26 of the Indian Constitution, which grants citizens the right to express their religious rituals freely.

The website (India Express) quoted the court as saying, “There is no doubt that the plaintiff, as well as believers of other religions, has the right to practice their religious rites.”

“The Azzan is a call to prayer, and the claim that its contents violate the basic right guaranteed to the plaintiff, as well as to persons belonging to other religions, cannot be accepted,” added the website.

Opinions were divided between supporters and opponents of the court’s decision via social media platforms, and one of the tweeters wrote, “The court’s decision is completely correct, and I have never complained about the priest of the temple near the house reciting (mantra) over the loudspeakers in the morning.”