Culver City Observer -

By Samuel Alioto

For over 1,000 years, Muslims have relied on the human voice to call the faithful to prayer. It's become tradition that wherever a mosque is built, there is a place for the muezzin, or prayer caller, said Aslam Abdullah, a Muslim scholar based in San Bernardino.

On May 14, 2020, City Hall in Culver City granted a permit to issue the call to prayer at dawn (i.e. 7:49 am), from there King Fahad mosque.

After four days, on May 18, the city's police department revoked the amplified noise permit, citing people congregating at the mosque in violation of the county health order, as well as "numerous loud noise complaints from area residents.”

Three days later, the city changed course again, reinstating the permit on the condition that the mosque lower the volume.

"We have had and will continue to have a great relationship with mosque leadership," said Capt. Jason Sims with the Culver City Police Department. "We are certainly happy to help with facilitating any type of service that is not in violation of county health orders."

"I'm glad I don't live near there," commented a neighbor on Next Door.

"There are a lot of bitter racists in CC," someone replied.

Eid Al Fitr, “the Feast of Breaking the Fast", marks the end of the month of Ramadan and is a very holy day for the world’s Moslems.

Located in Culver City at 10980 Washington Blvd, the King Fahd Mosque was financed by Saudi Arabia and built in 2005. It is open for all five daily prayers.

The complex also contains a lecture and meeting hall, classrooms, research centers, a bookshop, a children’s playground, and parking.