According to Islamic law, dhimmis -- primarily Jews and Christians under the "protection" of the Islamic state -- are "forbidden to openly display wine or pork, (A: to ring church bells or display crosses,) recite the Torah or Evangel aloud, or make public display of their funerals and feastdays" ('Umdat al-Salik, o11.5(6)).
No bells, no public displays. And in the modern age, no loud joyful music. And some Muslims in the U.K. have gone to court to press for the enforcement of Sharia provisions upon Christians there, and have succeeded in forcing them to curtail their worship services.
An update on this story. "Newest attack on Christianity: Just shut up! Noise ordinances latest weapon against churches,
A Christian legal organization in the United Kingdom is reporting a skirmish victory in the latest war against Christians and their churches - the demand that they essentially be silent in their worship.
Cases have cropped up in recent months both in the U.K. as well as the United States in which governmental bodies have demanded that Christian groups essentially be silent - so that no one can hear their worship.
The Christian Legal Centre in the U.K. is reporting a victory in a battle, although the war remains....
The legal organization said another church, Immanuel House of Worship in London, also has been "silenced" by the government because the sound of its worship drew a complaint from a single Muslim neighbor.
That's despite the fact the neighbor is living in what used to be a church house adjacent to the church itself.
The church in Walthamstow was targeted by a noise abatement order even though local government officials had tested - and approved - its sound mitigation plan.
Ade Ajike, a church trustee, reported that after a visit from a government environmental health officer, the officer warned, "the church had to keep the noise down so as not to offend the Muslims living in the area."
"He told us 'this is a Muslim borough, you have to tread carefully,'" Ajike reported about the 2009 dispute.
The church has since reduced its Sunday worship from four hours to two hours and 30 minutes, of which music is played for only about 45 minutes. Midweek services were changed so that no music was used, and Sunday evening services were reduced to one a month.
The church further eliminated the use of percussion from its worship.
"Despite all our action, the occupant, who actually lives in what was the former manse to the church, would stand at the church's main entrance door and shout his complaints and demand our pastor come out to speak to him during his sermon," Ajike said.
That church's case continues on appeal....
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