In Dearborn, Michigan, residents are calling on city officials to enforce local noise ordinances after a nearby mosque’s loudspeakers broadcast the call to prayer multiple times a day, sometimes lasting up to five minutes.
Andrea Unger, a lifelong resident for 40 years, said the sound reaches her home as early as 5:30 a.m. and disrupts daily routines.
“It’s coming into your home, and you have no choice,” Unger told Fox News Digital, stressing that her concern is about fairness, not religion.
For the past two years, Unger has petitioned the Dearborn Police Department and city council to address the issue.
She submitted a petition signed by 40 neighbors requesting enforcement of the city’s noise ordinance, which prohibits “unreasonably loud, disturbing, unusual or unnecessary noise” that interferes with residents’ comfort or safety.
A 30-day recording of the calls reportedly showed noise levels consistently exceeding 70 decibels, surpassing the city’s 60-decibel daytime limit.
Unger emphasized that her objections are grounded in equity rather than faith.
“No public school may have a specific prayer to a specific God,” she said. “Yet this prayer to Allah is projected over our school grounds and playgrounds daily. There is no atheist, Christian, Jewish, or Catholic equivalent permitted.”
The outlet notes that some neighbors have been hesitant to speak out, fearing accusations of being anti-Muslim.
City Council President Mike Sareini acknowledged the complaints during a recent meeting. Police confirmed ordinance violations but said a full report from the chief is pending before further action is taken.
“It’s not legal, nor do we support it,” Sareini said.
The Islamic Institute of Knowledge, the mosque at the center of the dispute, posts seven daily prayer times on social media but did not respond to requests for comment.
Another local mosque reportedly lowered its sound system voluntarily after community concerns arose, demonstrating that compromise is possible.
Nabeel Bahalwan, director of the Dearborn Community Center, said his center temporarily disabled its microphone broadcasting the call to prayer until a resolution is reached.
“We always respect our neighbors,” Bahalwan said.
Residents argue that the loudspeaker issue adds to a sense of exclusion in the city.
As Resist the Mainstream previously reported, Christian resident Ted Barham said Mayor Abdullah H. Hammoud told him he was not welcome in Dearborn after he protested the renaming of street signs to honor a controversial Muslim figure.
Citizens also criticized an optional Arabic-English patch introduced for police uniforms, claiming it undermined neutrality and heightened tensions among non-Muslim residents.
Unger and her neighbors continue to push for enforcement, stressing that their complaints are about fairness, property rights and quality of life.
“We just want to live in the community that it’s always been,” she said.
The debate in Dearborn reflects broader discussions about balancing cultural and religious accommodations with the rights of residents.
While city officials have acknowledged some violations, residents insist that enforcing noise ordinances is essential to preserving public order, community trust and equal treatment.
The controversy highlights the challenges of managing diverse communities while respecting both religious practices and neighborhood standards.
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