Authorities Cite Noise Pollution, Imam Calls Azan from Rooftop Amid Rising Tensions
UP, India: Sambhal police on Saturday removed loudspeakers from the 16th-century Shahi Jama Masjid, citing noise pollution concerns, prompting the mosque’s imam, Mohd Haji Raees, to deliver the Azan from the rooftop where the loudspeakers were previously installed.
A video of the Imam calling for prayer from the rooftop quickly went viral on social media, sparking widespread discussions.
Sambhal SP Krishan Kumar Bishnoi stated that the restriction on loudspeakers applies to all public places. “The cleric is free to lead prayers from the terrace of the mosque as the act does not come under criminal activity. Anyone can stand on a rooftop,” he said.
Meanwhile, DM Rajender Pensiya claimed that the removal of loudspeakers was due to ongoing board examinations, a justification that has raised further debate.
Communal Tensions and Past Incidents
This action comes amid heightened communal tensions in Sambhal, particularly following the violence on November 24, 2024, when an ASI (Archaeological Survey of India) team, accompanied by a Hindutva mob chanting ‘Jai Shri Ram,’ arrived to survey the Shahi Jama Masjid over claims that a temple was demolished to build the mosque.
At least five Muslims were killed when Uttar Pradesh Police opened fire on locals protesting the survey. In the aftermath, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) filed a 4,400-page chargesheet covering six out of 12 cases related to the violence, with 80 arrests made and 79 suspects still at large out of 159 accused.
Crackdown on Mosque Loudspeakers
The removal of the Shahi Jama Masjid’s loudspeakers follows a pattern of similar actions in recent months:
• January 2025: Two imams, Rehaan Hussain and Aale Nabi, were booked for using mosque loudspeakers in Sambhal City.
• December 2024: A 23-year-old imam was arrested and fined ₹2 lakh for calling Azan using a loudspeaker.
Shahi Jama Masjid Renovation Blocked
Regarding the Shahi Jama Masjid Committee’s request for renovation, DM Rajender Pensiya confirmed on Monday that the structure is now under the ASI’s jurisdiction, with the court halting any renovations.
As tensions continue to simmer, the removal of mosque loudspeakers in Sambhal reflects growing restrictions on religious practices, fueling further controversy in an already charged atmosphere.
