Mississauga’s diversity committee set to look at decision to relax noise bylaws to allow call to prayer in Ramadan

Thestar.com
May 6, 2020
Kate Allen

A Mississauga councillor has put forward a motion to have the city’s diversity committee consider the decision that allowed the easing of noise bylaws to broadcast the call to prayer during Ramadan, citing “unsolicited feedback” from thousands of members of the public.

Council passed a resolution on April 29 to temporarily relax noise bylaws, allowing mosques to broadcast the evening call to prayer during Islam’s holy month at a time when religious gatherings are prevented by the pandemic. The changes don’t affect physical distancing restrictions put in place to stop the spread of COVID-19.

The motion, moved by Councillor Sue McFadden, proposes referring the decision to council’s Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Committee for discussion and public input on “the matter of broadcasting audible expressions of faith.”

A motion, moved by Councillor Sue McFadden, proposes referring the decision to council’s Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Committee for discussion and public input on “the matter of broadcasting audible expressions of faith.”

“Thousands of members of the public have provided their unsolicited feedback to members of council and the city clerk after the approval of the (April 29) resolution, demonstrating a keen interest in matters of faith in the public realm,” the motion reads.

McFadden declined to provide comment Tuesday night. A spokesperson said she would be available to the media after Wednesday’s council meeting where the motion will be considered. The motion proposes that the Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Committee meet via electronic conference call within five calendar days to discuss the matter.

Other Ontario municipalities, including Toronto and Ottawa, have also allowed the call to prayer to be broadcast during Ramadan, citing the need for emotional well-being and spiritual connection at an exceptionally difficult and isolating time. Mississauga’s April 29 resolution stipulated that calls could be broadcast for no longer than five minutes.

Mississauga’s resolution was welcomed by members of the Muslim community. Muslim Council of Peel director Rabia Khedr said in a statement that “The decision gives the community great solace during Ramadan, when we would be assembling at the mosque every evening breaking fast in Ramadan -- our holiest of months.”

The move also sparked backlash. At least one petition called for the decision to be rescinded, saying it was unfair to members of other faiths and to secular citizens, and suggested the call to prayer might perpetuate post-traumatic stress syndrome in veterans who served in the Middle East. The petition has since been taken down.

The Canadian Anti-Hate Network, which monitors hate groups in Canada, said that Mississauga’s decision “has become a focal point for anti-Muslim hatred.”

The latest motion says councillors were not notified in advance of the original resolution to suspend the noise bylaw, preventing “a thoughtful, informed decision,” and no public input was solicited.

McFadden’s spokesperson noted that “the motion does not recommend any changes to what was approved last week but that it also be considered by the committee that council established to deal with such matters.”