Duke reverses stance on Muslim prayer
The Muslim call to prayer was broadcast from a small black loudspeaker perched on the steps of the Duke Chapel on Friday, January 16, as hundreds of students, mostly non-Muslim, gathered in support of the right of all students to pray publicly.
The gathering, replete with signs reading “Let us worship together” and “Please pray here,” was quiet and peaceful and emerged spontaneously after Duke University officials the day before had abruptly reversed their decision to broadcast the Muslim adhan, or call to prayer, from the 210-foot bell tower atop the school’s iconic chapel.
The plan had been to broadcast the Muslim call to prayer for about three minutes each Friday.
