Berlin family faces eviction for loud night prayers

Berlin family faces eviction for loud night prayers

BERLIN (Reuters) - A seven-member family faces eviction from an east Berlin apartment tower after neighbours complained about loud prayer sessions that keep the whole building awake at night, a German newspaper said on Thursday.

"I really don't want to disturb the neighbours but the high volume is needed in the battle against the devil," Pierre D., the 42-year-old father of the Christian family, told Bild newspaper. He is fighting an eviction order in court.

Neighbours told Bild the screams and singing that are part of the family prayers in the second storey sometimes begin at 2:30 a.m. and can be heard all the way up to the fifth floor.

"We have to work in the morning and need our sleep," said taxi driver Horst Berghahn, who lives on the third floor. He said he asked the family to lower the volume several times since they moved into the building 10 months ago but to no avail.