There is an uproar in Cologne. The independent mayor Henriette Reker (64), who was seriously injured in the 2015 attack with a right-wing extremist background, gave Muezzins the green light. Every Friday they can now call for prayer over loudspeakers for five minutes. The pilot project, which includes 35 Muslim communities, is limited to two years.
Many of the 120,000 Muslims in Cologne cheer. “I see this as a gesture of acceptance and tolerance,” says Ahmet Erdogan, chairman of a community. Opponents, however, describe the decision as a demonstration of power by the Muslims.
Also possible in Switzerland
The Muslims in Switzerland would have great chances of being approved for the public call to prayer. Andreas Stöckli (38), Professor of State and Constitutional Law at the University of Freiburg: “Such an act is protected by religious freedom.” However, there could be restrictions in the area of noise protection, such as those for church bells.
Even if the call to prayer is addressed to men and only allows Islam as the only true religion, the state must impose great restraint on the content. Stöckli: “The state is obliged to treat all religions equally.”
Despite the ban on building minarets, Muslims could also call out to prayer in Switzerland. “The call to prayer has nothing to do with a minaret,” says Pascal Gemperli (43), press spokesman for the Federation of Islamic umbrella organizations in Switzerland. Why don’t they “We don’t want to create tension,” says Gemperli. The call to prayer still takes place, but simply in the mosque itself.
Islam expert outraged by decision
The well-known Islam expert Necla Kelek (63) * is very critical of the Cologne decision. In an interview with Blick, she reveals why.
Ms. Kelek, what do you think of the fact that in Cologne the muezzin can call to prayer?
Necla Kelek: I don’t understand the decision. It is going in the wrong direction, namely in the direction of mosque associations, from which we seculars have been expecting reforms for years.
The independent mayor Reker speaks of a “sign of respect”.
The sign is one-sided. She has not made sure that her counterpart, with whom she has in a sense concluded a contract, is just as respectful and tolerant of an open society. And I maintain that these mosque associations are closed societies and build a parallel world.
That’s what the muezzin calls
The call to prayer in Arabic reminds Muslims of the daily compulsory prayers. In Muslim countries the muezzin himself climbs onto the minaret, but in many places the call is spread over loudspeakers.
The content: «Allah is the greatest of all. I testify that there is no deity but Allah. I testify that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. On to prayer. On to success. Prayer is better than sleep. There is no deity but Allah. “
The call to prayer in Arabic reminds Muslims of the daily compulsory prayers. In Muslim countries the muezzin himself climbs onto the minaret, but in many places the call is spread over loudspeakers.
The content: «Allah is the greatest of all. I testify that there is no deity but Allah. I testify that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. On to prayer. On to success. Prayer is better than sleep. There is no deity but Allah. “
What do you base your claim on?
I’ve been dealing with this topic for years. And I notice that the traditional attitude towards the world and human has not changed.
What do you criticize about the call to prayer?
It is called “Allahu Akbar, Allah is great and Mohammed is his prophet”. This can also be interpreted as saying that Allah is the only true God and Islam is the only true religion and that other religions are not recognized. Unfortunately, terrorists such as those from Boko Haram, IS and the Taliban are now using the same words after attacks. In addition, the message is only aimed at men. I can’t understand why the mayor, as a woman, actually supports this patriarchal world.
Is the same text called in Germany as in strictly Muslim countries?
I don’t know of a single modification of this text.
You say no to the muezzin, but Christians also ring bells. What’s the difference here?
Bells call for prayer playfully and without words and are a time telling. There would certainly also be discussions if a priest called from the church tower with a “Our Father” to worship.
How should the Muslims call to prayer?
I would ask the mosque associations, federations and congregations to refrain from the opportunity offered to them and to refrain from calling to prayer of their own accord. No other religion in this diverse city traditionally provides for a call to prayer. So why only the Sunnis and Shiites, it is also rude to the others.
The Central Mosque in Cologne was opened personally in 2018 by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. How big is its influence?
The Cologne Central Mosque is the religious embassy of the Turkish government in Germany. It is financed with money from Turkey, the imams are Turkish officials, and the Friday sermons in Ankara are written by the Turkish religious authority Diyanet.
In 2009, Switzerland was criticized worldwide because the electorate banned the construction of minarets. In your opinion, was that the right decision?
That society is asked about something new at all and that it deals with who is shouting what here – I would also like to have this type of population survey here in Germany. The mayor should have discussed the topic in broad circles of the city and carried out a vote. There needs to be a debate among Muslims about how they can make their religion compatible with democracy.
* The Turkish-born sociologist, women’s rights activist and publicist Necla Kelek (63) is one of the most prominent Muslim voices in Germany. As a human rights activist, she primarily criticizes the authoritarian image of women in traditional Islam. She has been awarded several prizes, including the Geschwister Scholl Prize and the Freedom Prize of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom.