Glasgow City Council has agreed to earmark a plot of land for Scottish Muslims to build a new cemetery, ending a long-running row over the Muslim site, reported the Evening Times on Friday, April 18.
"The council offered a 31-acre site adjacent to Linn Park cemetery, and this has been accepted (by local mosques)," a council spokesman said.
The city had initially offered a 75-year lease for a 31-acre site in Carmunnock village on the southern edge of the city to build an Islamic cemetery.
But the offer was dropped over opposition from locals who feared that the cemetery will harm the area's village status and its green space.
Scottish Muslims have long complained that their current site in Cathcart Cemetery was running out of space to bury loved ones.
Between 100 and 120 people from the community die every year, said Mohammed Kausar, the general secretary of Glasgow Central Mosque.
Glasgow is home to estimated 30,000 Muslim population.
Plaudits
Muslim leaders hope that the new cemetery will be ready within months.
"The Muslim community is looking forward to moving forward and having the cemetery available as soon as possible," said Bashir Maan, convener of the Muslim Council for Scotland.
"We are employing some good architects and there will be a consultation process," added Rizwan Mohammed, who is on the Muslim committee for funerals.
Glasgow mosques won plaudits for getting the go-ahead to build a new cemetery.
"I am delighted to hear that the Muslim community is finally on its way to receiving new land for a Muslim cemetery," said Glasgow's MSP Bashir Ahmad.
"Glasgow's mosques must be commended for their dealings in securing this site.
"The mosques pulling together and working closely with the council means that the Muslim community will have a cemetery appropriate for generations to come."
Source: Islam Online (English)
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