Duke’s Muslim call to prayer brings hundreds 

Hundreds gathered outside of Duke University’s Chapel for the Muslim call to prayer Friday afternoon, despite the University allowing, then denying, the prayer to be broadcast across campus from the bell tower.

Yesterday’s prayer was amplified from a small speaker, despite Duke University officials originally announcing earlier this week that the Islamic weekly call to prayer, or the adhan, would be broadcasted from the Duke Chapel tower.

Duke University officials said that the primary reason to change their previous decision was due to a “credible and serious security threat.” The University had also received heavy criticism from Franklin Graham, the son of evangelist Reverend Billy Graham and head of Samaritan’s Purse,.

At Friday’s prayer, Duke students brought signs to the event to protest Duke’s reversal on the decision and were not shy to voice their opinions.

“I think I would voice my concern with what I feel is a unilateral decision by the administration to cancel the event without really without consulting the communities involved,” second-year Duke Univeristy Divinity student, Robert Densmore said.

Densmore was among many there in support of the Muslim call to prayer and held a sign reading “Let Us Worship Together.”

There was no visible opposition to the call to prayer before or during worship.

For more on participants and Elon’s reaction, tune into Elon Local News on Monday at 6 p.m.