The shape of things to come....

[M_B]

sounds very fair to me

Aye. But the fact remains that British Muslims should have a place to worship and be able to practice their religion with the same freedom as any other British citizen.

[EqualOpportunities]

There are many churches in Islamic countires with thriving communities. Besides what happens in other countries should not influence what happens in this land.

And the call to prayer doesn't sound bad to me - I have heard it many times on my travels.

We may be a Christian society but it should not prevent the worship and practice of other religions, unless we wish to be a society of bigots.

Agreed. Entirely. Unless the 'worship and practice of other religions' involves something being BROADCAST (now, I wouldn't mind it being multicast - that way, it could be a subscription service) in a language which is not native to this country, popularising/encouraging/whatever practices of a religion other than that of this country.

I'm sure you'd see if differently if it were the KKK shouting "right lads, pillow cases ironed and torches lit" or Rastas suggesting, at volume, that we should "all build a phat one".

HTH

[Churchill]

Aye. But the fact remains that British Muslims should have a place to worship and be able to practice their religion with the same freedom as any other British citizen.

Show me where in the constitution it says that!

[DimPrawn]

Aye. But the fact remains that British Muslims should have a place to worship and be able to practice their religion with the same freedom as any other British citizen.

At the expense of others peace and quiet?

Only "fair".

I bet you vote Labour too.

[MickeyP]

This is old news. I was a student in Bradford 1989-1992 and I woke up regularly to the local Mosque blaring out over the neigbourhood. Its speading to other parts of the country naturally..

[SallyAnne]

I'm really torn on this one!!

I'd have to hear it I think.

We have Siehk (no idea how to spell it!!) temple around from us and it has a big yellow net over it's spire (which I'm told they have to for religious reasons).

There was a lot of resistance to this when they first moved in, btu I really like it. People dont even notice it now, and it looks quite pretty (and when I first moved in it was how I knew I was on the right street home!)

Course, Siehks are no bother - they just get p*ssed and enjoy themselves.

I'm not sure what my point it...maybe just people fear change...especially when it comes to those "funny looking foreigners" - but most of the time it's ok.

Maybe I'm less resistant to new comers as I live on a port. Are people from Southampton etc the same?

[Pickle2]

I dont know about Oxford, but if this went ahead in Stoke, the kids would just use it as a signal as to when it was good to rob the corner shop.

[Ardesco]

We may be a Christian society but it should not prevent the worship and practice of other religions, unless we wish to be a society of bigots.

Nobody has said we should prevent them from practising thier religion, we have just said that we see no reason why they should continually stick it out our face when we don't want to know.

You can draw a pentagram with giblets and dance around drinking blood and praying to satan for all I care, as long as you don't expect me to take an interest, be a part of it, or have to witness it.

Practising your religion is one thing, screaming come worship allah now through a loudspeaker three times a day in the middle of one of the oldest cities in England is something completely different.

[Dark Black]

sounds very fair to me

Totally fair - it's their country, their call. No problem...

Of course in modern PC "bend-over" Britain it's a different story...

[M_B]

Agreed. Entirely. Unless the 'worship and practice of other religions' involves something being BROADCAST (now, I wouldn't mind it being multicast - that way, it could be a subscription service) in a language which is not native to this country, popularising/encouraging/whatever practices of a religion other than that of this country.

I'm sure you'd see if differently if it were the KKK shouting "right lads, pillow cases ironed and torches lit" or Rastas suggesting, at volume, that we should "all build a phat one".

HTH

It does not bother me that it is broadcast in a different language as I have absolutely no interest in Islam, or any religion for that matter and the sound of words does not cause me offense. It will be better than listening to cars, trucks and planes.