I HAVE been following the proposals to build yet another Mosque in Stoke-on-Trent with considerable interest, particularly the intention to broadcast the call to prayer. I can't help wondering if the people of Stoke-on-Trent, including most of the councillors, are fully aware of what this entails. I have a recording of the call to prayer which I recorded in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and would be quite happy to make it available to any Stoke-on-Trent councillors who are not quite sure what they are letting themselves and the people of Stoke-on-Trent, in for.

My first-hand experience on the subject was acquired in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the cradle of Islam, from where all Islamic doctrine has evolved.

The Salat (General Prayer) must be performed five times each day, at dawn, mid day, late afternoon, sunset and before sleeping, all of which are announced by the call to prayer.

During the height of the summer the first prayers are at about 4 in the morning and the Aisha evening prayer is at about 11 at night. The call to prayer is usually broadcast through four huge loudspeakers connected to a type of amplifier normally associated with pop concerts, the idea being that no one has any excuse for not hearing it, an objective which is most certainly achieved. Is there any absolute guarantee that this will not happen in Stoke-on-Trent?

The reports I have read seem to be rather inconclusive on the subject with references to proposals to broadcast the call to prayer on Fridays and during 'holy festivals' but I haven't seen any reference as to how many times a day, any decibel limits or how many festivals. I know of at least seven which take place throughout the Hijra calendar with Ramadan lasting for thirty days immediately followed by Eid ai-Fitr which continues for another four days and so on.

I am not convinced that the indigenous people of Stoke-on-Trent have been put fully in the picture on this issue and I regard this as the thin end of a very large wedge which will most certainly set a precedence. How many more Mosques are there going to be and how many loudspeakers and amplifiers?

I live in Newcastle but if the call to prayer is broadcast from the proposed Regent Road Mosque in the manner I have described, we would most certainly hear it here.

Prayer times in our churches are prominently displayed on the notice boards for all to see and with the accurate timepieces and mobile phones now available there is absolutely no need to broadcast the call to prayer at all thus eliminating one form of noise pollution for those of us who don't wish to have it.

JOHN PROCTER

The Westlands.