While 7% of the more than 500 mosques around the country of the Netherlands have been able to recite the Friday adhan over loudspeakers over the past few years, this is the first time for the capital city of Amsterdam.
While 7% of the more than 500 mosques around the country of the Netherlands have been able to recite the Friday adhan over loudspeakers over the past few years, this is the first time for the capital city of Amsterdam.
The adhan, or the Muslim call to prayer, was recited on loudspeakers for the first time in history in Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands, on Friday according to mosque officials. The Blue Mosque, being the cultural and religious hub in Amsterdam for Muslims since the construction of it in 2008, saw an emotional gathering on Friday as many gathered to hear the adhan being recited outloud for the first time in the capital city.
Originally planned for the previous Friday, the mosque had to reschedule as their audio system was vandalized and cut by unidentified individuals. Despite this, the Blue Mosque was able to go through as planned on the following Friday, as many rightfully described the moment as a historic celebration.
Et #AllahuAkbar retentit Ă #Amsterdam pour la premiĂšre fois. La mosquĂ©e est autorisĂ©e dĂ©sormais Ă diffuser lâadhan tous les vendredis.
đđđ https://t.co/qDfIJDBA9t pic.twitter.com/OV1MKmQjgK
— DĂŽmes & Minarets (@domes_minarets) November 15, 2019
While 7% of the more than 500 mosques around the country of the Netherlands have been able to recite the Friday adhan over loudspeakers over the past few years, this is the first time for the capital city of Amsterdam. The Constitution of the Netherlands allows all religions the right to call believers to worship, and while municipalities can limit the duration and volume of it, they cannot ban the religious calls for prayer.
Despite being marred by far-right movements and politicians, including the leader for the Party for Freedom Geert Wilders, who all attempt to foster divisive and hateful rhetoric, the Netherlands has long been a hub for multi-culturalism, diversity, and the mixing of religions and ideologies.
As the Blue Mosque and those who support multi-culturalism celebrate this historic moment, many hope that this small move will stand as an important reminder that the beauty of diversity lies in the strength in numbers and not the number of differences.
