Loud speaker in mosque

I heartily endorse Mr. Sukaryan's letter (Mosque and loudspeaker, The Jakarta Post, Nov. 5, 1994).

Of course, I respect the need for a call to prayer from the mosques in this predominantly Moslem country--after all, in Christian countries bells are rung to summon the faithful to Church--but need it be so early and need it be so loud? I live within about 200 meters of a mosque, and every morning I am waken at 4 a.m. (or earlier) by a very loud and none-too-melodious call to prayer. Thereafter, what goes on inside the mosque is also proclaimed to the world outside, and the voices are very far from melodious. As I get up at 5 a.m. on week days (at 9.30 a.m. at week-ends), you may ask why I object to being awakened at 4 a.m. But I do, because an extra hour of sleep that I lose is valuable to me.

As for week-ends, ladies seem to take over in the later part of the morning, say 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. at a very high decibels. But by then I am more or less awake, and if need be, I can seek refuge in my CD/tape player! If all mosques could observe the rules enunciated by Mr. Sukaryan, life would be a whole lot more peaceful and enjoyable, not only for non-Moslems, but also for Moslems who prefer to say their prayers in private at other times and not go to the mosque.

RB SAWREY-COOKSON

Jakarta