Wüst is critical of plans to call muezzin in Cologne
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North Rhine-Westphalia Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst
Source: dpa/Rolf Vennenbernd
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North Rhine-Westphalia’s Prime Minister Wüst sees potential for social disputes in the city of Cologne’s model project for muezzin calls. The announcement would be tantamount to a call to all mosque communities to also apply for the introduction of the muezzin call.
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Dhe Prime Minister of North Rhine-Westphalia, Hendrik Wüst (CDU), is critical of the city of Cologne’s model project for muezzin calls to Friday prayers. There is no doubt that the muezzin call falls under religious freedom, Wüst told the Catholic News Agency (KNA). “As a result of weighing up other fundamental rights, calls to prayer are currently only being made to a very limited extent in individual mosque locations.”
In recent years, this has led to a high degree of social pacification on this topic, said Wüst. “Without necessity and cause, it seems to me, this peace is now being intervened in Cologne. Because the city’s announcement is equivalent to a call to all mosque communities to submit applications for the introduction of the muezzin call. I’m concerned that this may bring more conflict into society than it serves integration.”
Cologne refers to the freedom of religious practice
Cologne had declared at the beginning of October 2021 that mosque communities would be able to call their believers to midday Friday prayers on request and subject to conditions. The conditions include, for example, that the call to prayer lasts no longer than five minutes. There is a maximum volume for the volume, which is determined according to the location of the mosque.
In addition, the respective mosque community must inform the neighborhood at an early stage with flyers and appoint a contact person who can answer questions or receive complaints. The model project is initially limited to two years.
