NEW YORK: Muslim leaders warmly welcomed as a “historic moment” New York City Mayor Eric Adams announcement that mosques in the city will be allowed to amplify the Azaan at Jumma prayers and also at iftar time during the holy month of Ramadan.
“We are eliminating bureaucracy and we are saying clearly that if you are at any service or place of worship, you do not need to apply for a permit to announce the Friday prayer’s call to prayer louder,” Adams said at a press conference in the presence of Muslim leaders.
Mayor Adams emphasized that this move is aimed at rectifying the long-standing notion that communities were restricted from amplifying their calls to prayer. He emphasized his administration’s commitment to removing bureaucratic obstacles and allowing mosques and houses of worship to amplify their call to prayer during Fridays and Ramadan without necessitating a permit.
Flanked by prominent Muslim leaders during a news conference at City Hall, Mayor Adams pledged that Muslim New Yorkers would no longer be relegated to the side line of the American dream, under his leadership.
To commemorate the occasion, an Imam recited the Azaan within the premises of City Hall. The Mayor’s decision was lauded for not just being a call to prayer but a call for unity, reflection, and community by Afaf Nasher, the executive director of the New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR).
Ahsan Chughtai, a senior advisor to Mayor Adams of Pakistani origin, expressed his jubilation, deeming it an “amazing movement” that the community had yearned for. Pakistani Deputy Inspector Adeel Rana, who leads the Muslim Officers Society within the New York City Police Department (NYPD), hailed the day as historic.
Imam Talib Abdul Rasheed of Maajlis-e-Shura commended the Mayor’s decision as a “good start,” underscoring the importance of Muslim communities fostering positive relationships with their neighbours.
Somaia Ferozi, principal of the Ideal Islamic School in Queens, lauded the new rules for sending a positive message to students, asserting that the Azaan serves as a reminder of their identity. Ferozi believes that the resonance of the Azaan in New York City neighborhoods will cultivate a sense of belonging among the students.
Mayor Adams, a Democrat, enjoys strong affiliations with leaders from diverse faith traditions and has actively advocated for the role of religion in the public sphere. —APP
