Dearborn Resident Reports Islamic Call to Prayer Breaching Noise Limits; Mayor Dismisses Concerns as “Not an Issue”

Image: Jihad Watch

During a Dearborn City Council meeting on Tuesday, Mayor Abdullah Hammoud—who is Muslim—again drew attention for refusing to offer an apology to local Christian minister Ted Barham after previously telling him, “You are not welcome here.” The incident has resurfaced amid growing tensions over noise complaints related to a mosque’s call to prayer.

In recent months, several Dearborn residents have reported being disturbed by daily loudspeaker broadcasts of the Islamic call to prayer, some beginning as early as 5:30 a.m. Addressing these concerns on the November 3 episode of the “Not From Here” podcast, Hammoud dismissed the issue, insisting the situation was being exaggerated.

Hammoud explained that only a small number of residents had complained and emphasized his responsibility to uphold the law uniformly. According to him, the city had conducted official decibel tests at the mosques in question and found all readings to be within legal limits. “For me, it’s not an issue,” he said, framing the matter as a misunderstanding rather than a genuine disturbance.

The mayor further anchored his position in constitutional protections, arguing that religious freedoms must be respected. Speaking openly as a Muslim, he questioned why these complaints were suddenly emerging after decades of routine practice. The podcast host, Jaafar Issa, hinted at political motivations, noting that elections were approaching. Hammoud did not address this comment directly but reiterated that the call to prayer has been part of Dearborn’s soundscape since the 1970s. He also pointed out that most mosques avoid broadcasting the early-morning Fajr call and compared the sound to the ringing of church bells.

However, long-time resident Andrea Unger challenged the city’s findings. Unger, who has lived in Dearborn for four decades, said she recorded the call to prayer for 30 consecutive days and consistently measured volumes above 70 decibels—higher than what she believes is acceptable. Despite raising the issue repeatedly with both the police department and city council over the past two years, she claimed the disturbance has persisted without meaningful action.

Unger added that many neighbors share her concerns but are reluctant to speak publicly for fear of being labeled anti-Muslim. She noted that accusations of “Islamophobia”—including one she said the mayor directed at Christian minister Ted Barham—have created a climate of hesitation among residents. “We’re not Islamophobic, we’re not anti-Muslim, we’re not anti-Jewish,” she said. “We just want our community to function as it always has. Something changed two years ago to allow this, and we are simply asking for fairness.”

(This Article was originally published by Jihad Watch)