Sir - We were interested to read the joint letter by the co-chairmen of the Anglo-Asian Association of Friendship (January 25) indicating the provisional state of the leadership at the Oxford Central Mosque. And in particular, we and many other people were glad to hear that members of the Mosque 'are by no means pressing' for a broadcast prayer call using loudspeakers. Neither in the short nor in the long term, we all hope.
It is also reassuring to the local community to learn that the 'overwhelming attitude' of worshippers is one of gratitude for the benefits they already enjoy and that they do not want to antagonise residents by inflicting an amplified prayer call upon them. We gather that, in any case, many Muslim communities in the West now receive a private prayer call either on a special FM radio band or via mobile 'phones.
Such a private signal, after all, only reflects modern living and working patterns in an age of scattered residential accommodation and car travel.
So if Oxford Muslims are willing to follow their co-religionists elsewhere and receive a private digital prayer call, then everyone can be happy. For no one is denying Muslims their right to worship. But what non-Muslims vociferously object to and will continue to object to into the future, is having loudspeaker prayer calls enforced upon them against their will. For people would see this as a breach of courtesy, un-neighbourly and a form of religious bullying.
So please let the Anglo-Asian Association of Friendship understand that their diplomatic efforts are genuinely appreciated. For all that people want is to be able to live peaceably with each other, without the sense that Islam is being permitted to dominate East Oxford.
Dr Allan Chapman and Mrs Rachel Chapman, East Oxford
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