In Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal district, a video has gone viral showing Mohammed Haji Raees, a Muazzin, offering the Jummah Azaan from the roof of the Shahi Jama Masjid.
This act followed the removal of loudspeakers from the mosque’s roof by the police, in compliance with the Yogi Adityanath government’s directive restricting loudspeaker use in public places.
Sambhal Superintendent of Police (SP) Krishan Kumar Bishnoi told The Times of India that the police were enforcing government orders. He emphasized that while loudspeakers were no longer permitted, the Muazzin remained free to recite the Azaan, as it did not constitute a criminal act.
The move is part of an ongoing crackdown on loudspeaker use at mosques in the district. In January, police booked two Imams—Rehaan Hussain of a mosque in Bahjoi and Rizaul Haqat of a mosque in Hayat Nagar—for using loudspeakers.
The controversy over mosque loudspeakers has been a recurring issue. In December 2024, 23-year-old Imam Tahzeeb was arrested and fined Rs 2 lakh for using a loudspeaker at the Anal Wali Masjid in the Kot Garvi area. His arrest followed complaints from Hindu right-wing groups about excessive volume. He was released on bail with the condition that he would not use loudspeakers for six months.
Tensions in Sambhal have been high, particularly after a survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid, a historic Mughal-era mosque, triggered violence. In response to the disturbances, authorities have taken preventive measures to maintain order.
Sambhal’s sub-divisional magistrate (SDM), Vandana Mishra, stated that the actions were part of efforts to balance religious practices with public tranquility. — With agency inputs
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