OIC Condemns Israeli Bill Restricting Loudspeakers at Mosques as 'Dangerous Escalation'

The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has strongly condemned a bill approved by the Israeli parliament that restricts the use of loudspeakers at mosques, calling it a discriminatory and racist legislative crime. The bill passed its first reading in the 120-member Knesset with a vote of 50 to 36. The proposed law stipulates that no sound system may be installed or operated in any mosque without prior official permission. Under Israeli government rules, the bill must still go through three additional stages of deliberation before it can officially become law. The OIC stated it considers this step an illegitimate and null and void action, describing it as a dangerous escalation within a series of racist Israeli decisions, laws, and actions aimed at restricting the presence of Palestinians and targeting Arab and Islamic identity. The organisation further declared it a direct attack on the sanctity of religious rituals and Islamic holy sites, and a clear violation of freedom of religion and worship, as well as cultural and religious rights guaranteed by the principles of international law and international human rights law.