PERMISSION FOR FRIDAY PRAYERS TO BE OFFERED OVER LOUDSPEAKERS IN GERMANY'S LARGEST MOSQUE

 Following an agreement between the administration of the German city of Cologne and the Muslim community to ease restrictions, the country's largest mosque was allowed to offer Friday prayers over a loudspeaker.

According to Reuters, all 35 mosques in Cologne will be allowed to use loudspeakers for Friday prayers for five minutes between 12 noon and 3 p.m. under a two-year deal.

These include the Cologne Central Mosque, which was opened in 2018 after the start of anti-Muslim sentiment by far-right parties.

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Anti-Muslim sentiment in Germany intensified in 2015 following the massive influx of refugees.

Cologne Mayor Henry Ricker said in a statement on Twitter that allowing the muezzin to call to prayer was a sign of respect for him.

"It's a sign that diversity is appreciated in Cologne and it's here," he said.

During the debate over the construction of a major mosque here, advocates assured the public that the call to prayer, which is aired five times a day in Muslim countries, would not be broadcast on a regular basis.

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The city said that mosques offering Friday prayers would have to abide by the rules regarding the sound of loudspeakers and inform the neighbors in advance.

It should be noted that there are about 4.5 million Muslims living in Germany, which is the largest religious minority group in the country.