Wexford County Council has agreed to provide a multi-religious graveyard with a separate section for Muslims, after an appeal from a Muslim advocacy group provoked a debate. The Muslim Public Affairs Committee in Ireland wrote to the council about the lack of provision for Muslim burials in the Wexford area.
''We believe the provision of fair and consistent practices and procedures, enabling communities to bury loved ones in a manner consistent with their beliefs, will better facilitate the cohesion and integration we all seek,'' the letter stated.
Compromise
Cllr. Jimmy Fleming told The Irish Catholic that a compromise has now been reached.
''The council have agreed in principal to a multi-religious graveyard with a separate section for Muslims which will be allocated according to the community population.''
Mujaahid Egan, South East branch manager of the Muslim Public Affairs Committee in Ireland, said he welcomed the news as an interim solution, ''but obviously our aim is to have our own burial ground in the future.''
Muslims cannot be buried in coffins.
To meet health and safety standards the body is brought to the grave in a coffin and then removed.
The body is buried facing Mecca, wrapped in a shroud and placed in a niche within the grave.
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(Source: IC)