Minneapolis Council Votes To Allow All Public Muslim Prayer Calls

MINNEAPOLIS — The Islamic call to prayer can now be broadcasted publicly for each of the five daily prayers in Minneapolis after the City Council unanimously approved a change to the noise ordinance.

Minneapolis is the first major city in the United States to allow "unfettered broadcast" of the Muslim call to prayer, the Star Tribune reported.

The previous ordinance sometimes prohibited the sunrise and sunset prayer calls, depending on the time of the year.

"This is a historic victory for religious freedom and pluralism for our entire nation," said Jaylani Hussein, the executive director for the Council on American-Islamic Relations' Minnesota chapter.

"We thank the members of the Minneapolis City Council for setting this great example, and we urge other cities to follow it."

Councilmember Aisha Chughtai, who authored the change to the ordinance, wrote that "This change creates a consistent process that benefits all First Amendment-protected religious freedom."