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Allegations that Ankara's Etimesgut Municipality banned the call to prayer

Some citizens living in Ankara's Etimesgut district have alleged that the municipality decided not to allow the call to prayer (ezan) to be recited in the prayer room located within the Devlet Bahçeli Education, Sports and Life Center.

İHA

Some citizens who went to pray at the prayer room located within the Devlet Bahçeli Education, Sports and Life Center in Ankara's Etimesgut district noticed that the call to prayer was not being broadcast in the prayer room while it was being recited in other mosques.

District residents alleged that the reason for the call to prayer not being recited was a decision taken by the new administration in Etimesgut, which passed from the MHP to the CHP in the March 31 Local Elections, on the grounds that it disturbed the children in the nearby daycare center.

WHAT DID ETİMESGUT MUNICIPALITY SAY?

According to information obtained from municipal sources, it was stated that the allegations do not reflect the truth and that the situation was caused by a malfunction in the sound system located inside the prayer room.

One district resident, noting that the call to prayer was not recited in the prayer room while it was being recited in other mosques, commented, "They say the new administration is not allowing the call to prayer because the children in the daycare center here are disturbed, but that has nothing to do with it. I suppose the new CHP mayor has made a decision. They say it's a malfunction, but we heard it's not being recited due to pressure from above. It is a very shameful thing; we say the CHP is against the call to prayer, they deny it, but this is a living example."

GOVERNOR'S OFFICE TOOK ACTION, INVESTIGATION LAUNCHED

In a statement following the developments, the Ankara Governor's Office stated, "Following reports in media outlets regarding the claim that the call to prayer is not being recited in the prayer room located at the life center affiliated with Etimesgut Municipality, an investigation has been launched by our Governor's Office regarding the matter. Presented for public information."