Complains about the volume of loudspeakers on mosques led to an order restricting how loud they can broadcast, Saudi Arabia’s Islamic affairs minister said.
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A policy that went into effect last week limits the volume of the speakers to no more than one-third of their maximum volume. It also limits the use of loudspeakers to issuing the call to prayer, effectively halting the broadcasting of sermons. The decision has angered ultra-conservatives in the country.
Islamic Affairs Minister Abdullatif al-Sheikh defended the decision on Monday, saying that the order was in response to complaints that that the speakers were disturbing children and the elderly.