'Hate speech' kicks up a healthy debate among Kerala Muslims

Even though former Kerala Minister R Balakrishna Pillai came under sharp criticism for allegedly mocking at the Islamic prayer call, the controversy has prompted a positive debate among the Muslim community on the sound pollution caused by the misuse of microphones in mosques.  

In an article written in Chandrika newspaper, the mouthpiece of Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), state party president and respected religious leader Panakkad Hyderali Shihab Thangal mooted restrictions on the use of the microphone in mosques. The use of loudspeakers should be restricted to prayer call and for emergency announcements. On other occasions and rituals in mosques,  the loudspeaker should be used discreetly so as not to disturb people in the locality, he said. 
 

Also read: Ex-Kerala Minister seeks apology for 'hate speech'; alleges conspiracy
 

In its editorial, Madhayamam, a Malayalam newspaper closely associated with the Jamaat- e- Islami, went a step further and proposed to restrict the routine prayer call to one mosque in a locality. Why should all the mosques in an area give the call simultaneously, it said. The editorial urged Muslim organisation to consider the suggestion seriously.  Besides the prayer call, misuse of the microphone is rampant during special occasions like Ramadan, it pointed out. 

Kerala Congress (B) leader R Balakrishna Pillai had whipped up a controversy after he allegedly criticised the Islamic prayer call as a nuisance. Later he refuted  the allegations and said that he was misquoted. 

• Hate Speech of R Balakrishna pillai
• Muslims in Kerala
• Islamic call for prayer