The holy 'noisance'

The Secretary General of the Colombo Grand Mosque says the rights of Muslims have been violated by the restrictions placed on loudspeakers in the night. I wish he would discuss this with people who can think clearly, before he makes such statements and thereby draws the entire Muslim community into ridicule.

Where in heaven's name do Muslims get the right to disturb even other Muslims, leave alone non-Muslims who obviously would not attend the mosque? The azan or the call for prayer is merely a notification that the time for prayer is up. It is not an alarm to wake people up.

Can one imagine the plight of the people if, as it is reported to have been done in Moratuwa, mosques, churches, kovils and temples put up loudspeakers on every light post in order that the entire town or village gets the holy message?

By L.M. Marzook, Galle