Sydney mosque seeks approval to broadcast call to prayer

Proposal highlights multicultural inclusion and religious harmony in Lakemba

SYDNEY, Australia (MNTV) — Lakemba Mosque, the largest mosque in Australia, has proposed broadcasting the Muslim call to prayer, known as the adhan, through loudspeakers once a week. 

The proposal, submitted to Sydney’s Canterbury-Bankstown Council, would see four loudspeakers affixed to the mosque’s minaret.

If approved, it would mark the first time the adhan is broadcast regularly by a mosque in Sydney. 

The initiative aims to reflect Australia’s growing recognition of multiculturalism and religious diversity.

The Lebanese Muslim Association (LMA), which owns and operates the mosque, describes the proposal as modest yet deeply significant for the local Muslim community. 

According to census data from 2021, nearly two-thirds of Lakemba’s population identify as Muslim, and about a quarter of residents speak Arabic at home.

The adhan would be broadcast around midday on Fridays, a time chosen to minimize disruptions, as most people would be at work, school, or engaged in daily activities.

The LMA has emphasized community support for the proposal, stating that local residents have provided respectful and positive feedback. 

“For many, it represents cultural inclusion and the freedom to express one’s faith peacefully in public life,” an LMA spokesperson said.

No formal objections have been lodged through the council’s application process, and the mosque has committed to balancing religious expression with maintaining harmony in the neighborhood.

If implemented, the initiative could set a precedent for religious expression in Sydney, promoting cultural inclusivity while fostering community understanding and cooperation.