Minneapolis becomes first US city to allow “adhan” to be heard over loudspeakers five times a day
Minneapolis: Minneapolis on Thursday became the first major city in America to permit broadcasts of the Muslim call to prayers, allowing “adhan” to be heard over speakers five times a day, year-round.
According to the Minneapolis Star Tribune, The Minneapolis City Council on Thursday voted unanimously to amend the city's noise ordinance. Due to noise restrictions morning and late evening calls were prevented at certain times of the year. The vote came during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
“The Constitution doesn't sleep at night,” said Jaylani Hussein, executive director of the Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, after the vote. He said the action in Minneapolis shows the world that a “nation founded on freedom of religion makes good on its promise.”
Three of 13 members of the council identify as Muslim. Apart from the vote being anonimous, there was no organized community opposition with the decision. Mayor Jacob Frey is expected to sign the measure next week.
Imam Mohammed Dukuly of Masjid An-Nur mosque in Minneapolis, one of several musllim leaders who witnessed the vote said,“Minneapolis has become a city for all religions.”
In Minnesota, dawn arrives at 5:30 am in the summer while happesns at 9pm.
Last year, the city allowed year-round broadcasts between 7 am and 10 pm excluding early morning prayer and sometimes night prayer.
At a recent public hearing, Christian and Jewish leaders expressed support for extending the hours for the adhan.
Observing the final day of Passover, Council Member Lisa Goodman noted that the Jewish call to prayer — which is generally spoken rather than broadcast — doesn't face legal restrictions. Observers noted that church bells regularly toll for Christians.
Council member Jamal Osman said, “It's something I grew up with, but not my children” adding that hearing the call to prayer from local mosques brings him joy.
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Jharkhand horror: Man kills live-in partner, chops body into 40 pieces
Ranchi (PTI): A 25-year-old man, who works as a butcher, allegedly strangled to death his live-in partner and chopped her body into 40 to 50 pieces in a forested area in Jharkhand’s Khunti district, police said on Wednesday.
The accused, identified as Naresh Bhengra, was arrested.
The matter came to light after around a fortnight after the killing when a stray dog was found with human body parts near Jordag village in Jariagarh police station on November 24.
Bhengra was in a live-in relationship with the deceased, a 24-year-old woman also from Khunti district, in Tamil Nadu for the past couple of years. Sometime back, he returned to Jharkhand, got married to another woman without telling his partner anything and went back to the southern state without his wife to join her.
"The brutal incident occurred on November 8 when they reached Khunti as the accused who had married another woman did not wish to take her home. Instead, he took her to a forest near his house at Jordag village in Jariagarh police station and chopped the body into pieces. The man has been arrested," Khunti Superintendent of Police Aman Kumar told PTI.
Inspector Ashok Singh who investigated the case said the man worked in a butcher shop in Tamil Nadu and was expert in slicing chicken.
“He admitted chopping the body parts of the woman into 40 to 50 pieces before leaving those in the forest for wild animals to feast on. The police recovered several parts on November 24 after a dog in the area was seen with a hand," Singh told PTI.
Singh said that the woman, who was unaware of his marriage, pressured him to return to Khunti. After reaching Ranchi, they boarded a train on November 24 and headed to the man's village.
"Under a plan, the man took her to Khunti in an autorickshaw near his home and asked her to wait. He returned with sharp weapons and strangulated her with her dupatta after raping her. He then cut the body into 40 to 50 pieces and left for his home to live with his wife," Singh said.
The woman, however, had informed her mother that she had boarded a train and would be living with her partner, the police officer said.
Following the recovery of body parts, a bag was also found in the forest with the murdered woman's belongings including her Aadhaar card. The mother of the woman was called at the spot and she identified her daughter's belongings.
"The mother suspected the man behind the crime who after being nabbed by the police admitted to chopping the woman into pieces," the official added.
The incident has sent shockwaves among people in the region, with the Shraddha Walker murder case of 2022 still fresh in their memory.
Walker was killed by her live-in partner who chopped her body into pieces before dumping them in the jungle in South Delhi’s Mehrauli.
