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Holy Land: law to 'silence' mosques would set a dangerous precedent


Al Omari Mosque, Tiberius

Al Omari Mosque, Tiberius

Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa OFM, Apostolic Administrator of the vacant see of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, has expressed his objection to government plans to take away the speakers from the minarets of mosques used for the daily call to Islamic prayer.

The bill was introduced to protect Israeli citizens from 'noise'. It was approved by the Ministerial Commission for legislation in mid-November and now under consideration by Parliament.

The call to prayer is a sound which has been heard throughout the Holy Land for centuries. Commentators have warned that legislation to silence this call would be seen as a provocation, which - according to Palestinian President Abu Mazen - would be likely to "make the region plunge into an abyss."

Speaking at a press conference at the headquarters of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem on Monday, Archbishop Pizzaballa said: "I believe that this is a dangerous precedent. I hope that this bill does not go ahead. There are other ways to solve the problem of noise pollution."

Archbishop Pizzaballa also spoke about the Cremisan Valley, where the Separation Wall wanted by the Israeli government has been built "despite our numerous appeals to the Israeli authorities." The expropriation of the lands of Christian families designed to build the wall - added the Archbishop - "represents a seizure of their heritage."

Outlining also the assignment guidelines received by the Pope as Apostolic Administrator of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, Pizzaballa said: "our local church here in the Holy Land also recognizes its own need for spiritual renewal, and is entering a period of reform in terms of administration, organization and pastoral work."

Source: Fides

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