A Palestinian member of parliament raised ‘azan’ in the Knesset (Israeli parliament) to protest a controversial bill which, if passed, would bar mosques from using loudspeakers for delivering call to prayer (azan) in occupied East Jerusalem.
Ahmad Tibi, member of the Knesset, raised the azan during his speech in the parliament and said the proposed bill demonstrated the Israeli government’s ‘Islamophobia’. Another member Taleb Abu Arar also started the azan and went on to complete it, despite attempts by the other members of the parliament to stop him.
The proposed bill has drawn criticism from various circles, with many Palestinians calling it a blatant violation of their freedom to worship.
Earlier, Palestinian presidential spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeineh warned that the bill would escalate conflict in the region.
“The Israeli actions are completely unacceptable,” he said in a statement. “The Palestinian leadership will go to the UN Security Council and to all international institutions to stop the escalating Israeli measures.”
Meanwhile, Palestinian group Hamas described the bill as “an outrageous provocation to the sentiments of Muslims everywhere and unacceptable interference in worship and religious practice.”
