Duke University has reversed a decision to have adhan, or the Muslim call to prayer, broadcast from the school’s chapel tower.
FoxNews.com noted that the university reversed its decision to have the weekly call to prayer broadcast from the bell tower.
“Duke remains committed to fostering an inclusive, tolerant and welcoming campus for all of its students,” university spokesman Michael Schoenfeld said in a statement. “However, it was clear that what was conceived as an effort to unify was not having the intended effect.”
When Duke initially announced the plan, many, including North Carolina’s own Franklin Graham, son of Evangelist Rev. Billy Graham, weighed in.
A post on his Facebook page said that Islam is "butchering" those who don't share in their beliefs.
“This is a Methodist school and the money for that chapel was given by Christian people over the years so that the student body would have a place to worship the God of the Bible,” Graham said in a phone interview and called for university funders to pull their money.
Graham also said that Muslims do have the right to worship in America and there are millions of wonderful individuals in Islam.
His comments, however, were not the only thing that influenced the reversal. WRAL reported Thursday that a "credible and serious security threat" was a primary reason for the decision.
Khalilah Sabra, executive director of the Muslim American Society in Raleigh, condemned the school’s choice, saying it is unfair for people to blame all Muslims for the terrible acts of a few.
Prayers for Duke’s growing Muslim study body will be held outside the chapel.