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After weeks of online debate, a downtown Regina mosque is inviting its neighbours to step inside and continue the conversation, face-to-face.
Regina City Jamia Masjid will hold an in-person public survey on Friday to gather feedback on its paused outdoor call to prayer.
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Director M. Anisur Rahaman said social media comments have made it difficult to know who is speaking and whether those opinions reflect the views of people living or working near the mosque.
“We do not know who they are,” Rahaman said. “We also don’t have the opportunity to meet and talk.”
That led mosque leaders to organize a two-minute survey and invite people inside for refreshments, questions and conversation.
“We thought that it would be more apt if we arranged some kind of survey within the community,” Rahaman said.
The mosque broadcast the Islamic call to prayer, known as the Adhan, from a rooftop loudspeaker last month under a trial permit. The brief Friday broadcast was later posted online, drawing support, criticism and some messages mosque leaders described as threats.
The mosque paused any further outdoor broadcasts after the first call while it considered the response and consulted police, neighbours and other faith communities.
Rahaman said the purpose of Friday’s event is not to dismiss criticism but to understand it better.
“We just want to see the negative comments, what exactly are the reasons?” he said.
“If there is any negative feedback coming, we will obviously share everything with the Regina Police Service because they also want to make sure we are doing everything properly and there is no safety concern.”
Rahaman said he does not expect problems during the event despite the threatening messages previously reported by the mosque.
“Whoever has any negative comments, we welcome them to come and meet and greet and talk in person,” he said.
“If we have any problem, if we have any mistakes, we can correct ourselves.”
People from across Regina are welcome, though Rahaman said the mosque is prioritizing those who live and work downtown because they are the people most likely to hear an outdoor broadcast.
“We encourage all Regina communities to come and meet and greet and share whatever you like, so we can be together on the same page,” he said.
The mosque’s initial permit expired on July 10. Rahaman said an application to renew it was submitted before the expiry date, though the mosque has not resumed the call while it gathers feedback.
Since the first broadcast, Rahaman said mosque leaders have met with representatives from Christian, Jewish, Hindu and Bahá’í communities to discuss concerns and seek advice.
“We are human beings and we know each other, and we have humanity and we respect each other,” he said. “Whatever we are doing, we have no problem accepting anybody’s comment.”
The mosque has previously said the outdoor call would take place only once a week before Friday prayers and would last about two to three minutes. It has also said there are no plans to broadcast it five times a day, as is customary in some Muslim-majority countries.
Rahaman said mosque leaders do not yet know what the survey will show or what decision will follow.
“We would like to meet and talk,” he said. “Whatever happens, that will happen for the best interest of our community.”
The Public Call to Prayer Survey will take place on Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Regina City Jamia Masjid, located at 1910 McIntyre St.
