Saudi Arabia bans mosque loudspeakers during Ramadan

Riyadh - The distinctive sound of the muezzins call to prayer is about to be curbed, as the Saudi Ministry of Islamic Affairs has banned mosque loudspeakers during Ramadan. Revered as the birthplace of the Prophet Mohammed and the heartland of Islam, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is attempting to tone down the noise produced by the five times daily call to prayers. Noise pollution is impacting on the quality of life of residents forced to endure unsynchronized calls from competing mosques.

According to Arab News ministry regulations guiding the use of mosque loudspeakers stipulate "that no loudspeakers are used for taraweeh and qiyamallail (special night prayers) during the upcoming Ramadan" (...)