Israeli Knesset Passes Preliminary Vote on Bill to Restrict Adhan in Occupied 1948 Territories
The Israeli Knesset has approved in a preliminary reading a bill aimed at restricting the broadcast of the adhan (Islamic call to prayer) in mosques located in the occupied 1948 territories. According to the voting results, 50 Knesset members voted in favor of the bill, while 36 voted against it.
Critics have described the bill as a measure against Palestinians and a restriction on Islamic religious practices. The occupied 1948 territories refer to areas that came under Israeli control following the establishment of Israel in 1948, where a significant number of Palestinians reside.
Earlier, Israeli media reported on the reconsideration of the law banning the broadcast of the adhan and efforts to make it more stringent. Channel 2 of Israeli television announced that the new draft grants broader authority to the police.
According to the draft bill, police would be empowered to raid mosques broadcasting the adhan and confiscate their loudspeakers. Additionally, a minimum fine of 10,000 shekels is proposed for these mosques; shekel is the official currency of Israel.
