Egyptian archeologist's comment on call to prayer stirs controversy
Egyptian archaeologist Zahi Hawass becomes target of criticism after calling for one call to prayer across all mosques in an area.
CAIRO — Recent statements by famous Egyptian archaeologist and former Minister of Antiquities Zahi Hawass questioning the need to amplify the calls to prayer came as a bombshell in Egypt.
While peaking to Balad TV, Hawass previously said, “The call to prayer disturbs tourists,” adding that the calls from mosques shouldn’t be amplified.
In an interview with Al-Monitor from his office in Cairo, Hawass said, “There’s nothing shocking about my statements. Sheikh Shaarawi previously said the same thing,” in reference to Muhammad Metwalli al-Shaawawi, a prominent Islamic scholar and former minister of endowments.
The amplified calls to prayer “have nothing to do with religion. In order to be more respectful, we need to unify the call to prayer. That’s my personal opinion,” he added. “I have never called for banning the call to prayer altogether. I am a Muslim man at the end of the day.”
