THE debate on whether a call to prayer should be broadcast from the Oxford Central Mosque comes under the spotlight on Sunday.

The Bishop of Oxford, the Rt Rev John Pritchard, mosque general secretary Altaf Hussein, and Eton College Imam Monawar Hussain will be speaking at Oxford Community School, in Glanville Road, from 3-5pm.

In November, senior figures at the mosque disclosed plans to introduce the call to prayer.

But in February, a new management committee was elected and said there was no immediate plan to broadcast the "adhan" from loudspeakers.

The committee said local residents would be consulted before any decision was made.

Saj Malik, co-chairman, said: "The association stands for friendship between the Anglo and Asian communities.

"Since this has been highlighted we feel it is a time when we need to bring people together to talk to each other and listen together."

The event has been organised by the Anglo-Asian Association.

It will also be a chance to discuss aspects of sharia law, which governs the way Muslims live their lives.

Mr Malik said: "We want people from the church and the mosque to explain what is happening and that there is nothing to fear. They are not calling for any sort of sharia law here nor call to prayer communication.

"We want to hear people's views and their reservations and hopefully someone will be able to answer their questions."

Fellow co-chairman Martin Conway added: "We became very aware through the call to prayer and sharia law debates that people were not listening to each other.

"People were sounding off, mostly from the Anglo side of the debate, entirely without listening to each other or even listening to their muslim neighbours.

"The effect of this was to drive Asian people back into their corner, feeling quite imposed upon and quite angry that they had not got the facts straight."

One of the most vociferous opponents of the proposed call to prayer was Dr Allan Chapman, who lives in Divinity Road.

He welcomed the meeting and said: "This was dropped completely out of the blue and people were profoundly alarmed.

"I think it's good to have this meeting but I hope it's not an attempt to grease the wheels for another bid because all the consultation in the world won't alter the fact that if you don't want a call to prayer, you don't want one."

Up to 200 people are expected to attend the free event.