OIC Condemns Israeli Knesset Draft Law on Call to Prayer Ban

The General Secretariat of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has strongly condemned the Israeli Knesset’s preliminary approval of a draft law that seeks to ban the Muslim call to prayer, known as the “Muezzin Law.”

The OIC described the move as “null and void,” calling it a discriminatory and racist legislative act that constitutes a serious violation of freedom of religion and worship, as well as cultural and religious rights protected under international law and human rights frameworks.

According to the OIC General Secretariat, the proposed legislation represents a dangerous escalation amid a series of Israeli policies and laws it says are aimed at restricting the Palestinian presence and undermining Arab and Islamic identity. It also warned that the measure amounts to a direct attack on Islamic religious practices and holy sites.

The organization further stressed that any interference with the call to prayer violates international legal obligations, including provisions of international human rights law, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and other treaties guaranteeing the freedom to practice religious rites without discrimination or restriction.

The OIC has urged the international community, including the United Nations and its relevant bodies, to take immediate action to halt such measures. It called for the repeal of what it described as unlawful and racist legislation, protection of Islamic holy sites, and accountability for violations of international law and global resolutions.