Netherlands: Call to prayer at inter-religious service

Netherlands: Call to prayer at inter-religious service

Via De Gelderlander 1, 2 (Dutch):

On Sunday September 4th the town of Doetinchem will hold a festival, followed by a joint inter-religious service. The city found Muslim, Catholic and Protestant leaders who agreed to participate in the service.

Before the service the town will ring the church bells and sound the Muslim call to prayer. Originally there were reports this will be done from a temporary minaret, but those reports turned out to be erroneous.

"It's a statement from all participants," explains organizer Joop Sars. Sars said that in these times of hardening attitudes, they want to show that Doetinchem is a tolerant city where diverse nationalities live side by side and can confirm their faith together in the town's festival.