A controversial change to Minneapolis’ noise rules has given mosques across the city the ability to publicly broadcast the Islamic call to prayer, or adhan, five times each day throughout the year.
The policy was approved unanimously by the Minneapolis City Council in April 2023. The vote amended the city’s noise ordinance to expand an existing religious-worship exemption, allowing amplified calls to prayer during hours that previously fell under stricter nighttime noise restrictions.
The decision attracted national attention because Minneapolis became the first major American city widely reported to permit all five daily Muslim prayer calls to be broadcast publicly year-round.
