Bijnor: Mohammad Faizan, a muezzin at a mosque in Uttar Pradesh’s Bijnor district, has been remanded to 14 days of judicial custody following his arrest over the use of a loudspeaker during the afternoon call to prayer.
The incident took place on October 11 at the Najib-ud-Daula Mosque in Najibabad, located near a government inter college. Faizan was reciting the Zuhr azaan when Bijnor Superintendent of Police Krishan Kumar Bishnoi, who was travelling to attend a public grievance redressal programme, reportedly heard the call to prayer and directed local police to inspect the mosque.
Police subsequently seized the loudspeaker, alleging that its volume exceeded the permissible decibel limit.
Police allege excessive noise
According to the police complaint, the loudspeaker was concealed inside the mosque and its volume could cause inconvenience to elderly people, children and those who were unwell. The complaint also alleged that the noise had led to public resentment.
Following his arrest, Faizan was produced before the Sub-Divisional Magistrate’s court, which remanded him to 14 days of judicial custody.
Religious representative questions arrest
The arrest drew criticism from Qazi Afan-ul-Haq, who argued that the police should have issued a warning instead of pursuing a complaint against the muezzin.
He said mosque muezzins perform a religious role and maintained that Faizan could have been released after being cautioned against repeating the alleged violation.
The case has brought attention to the enforcement of loudspeaker regulations at religious places and the handling of alleged noise violations. The police allegations and the circumstances of the case remain subject to the applicable legal process.
