Sydney council rejects Lakemba Mosque's request to broadcast the adhan publicly

A request by the Lebanese Muslim Association to allow Lakemba Mosque to emit the Islamic call to prayer via four external loudspeakers was rejected by Canterbury-Bankstown Council on the grounds that it would be intrusive and noisy. The plan called for a 15-minute broadcast each Friday from a tall minaret, a practice seen in other global cities. More than 1,600 written objections were received, prompting a heated council debate, while a petition supporting the proposal claimed the issue was about belonging, not sound.

Independent councillor Saud Abu-Sameh offered a simple remedy, urging residents to close their windows if disturbed. The 2021 census shows Muslims comprise about 6.3 % of Greater Sydney’s population, roughly 330,000 people. The council has not indicated whether the association will appeal the decision.