Montreal-area Muslims get new burial ground

Some members of the Montreal Muslim community have reached an agreement with Magnus Poirier funeral homes for 3,000 plots at the Laval Cemetery.

Right now, there is one cemetery with separate areasfor Shia Muslimsand Sunni Muslims. But that cemetery isgetting full, and some people don't like the way it is managed.

"They dig the hole, they put the casket in, and they put back the dirt. The marker is a metal plate like you would find in a parking lot, not a cemetery," says Hadjira Belkacem.

Belkacem is originally from Algeria, but considers herself a Quebecer. She says shewants to be buried here, and that's why she founded Quebec'sMuslim burial association.

Because of the lack of options, she says many Muslims were considering repatriatingtheir loved ones' remains to their country of birth. That, despite the considerable expense and the strong preference many Muslims have for a rapid burial.

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Islam requires burial of the body as soon as possiblepreferablywithin 24 hoursbut that can be difficult here in Canada, where funeral home and cemetery staff aren't always available to offer those services on such short notice.

Now, Magnus Poirier funeral homes and Laval Cemetery arecommitting to provide those services.

They will open a new section of the cemetery up to all Muslims regardless of denomination.

"We have just to make sure that we are available to them seven days a week. There is no such day as a holiday,says Jacques Poirier, president and CEO of Magnus Poirier.

"We have seen that they are quite anxious to have something that can fulfiltheir requests and they way they should be served."

HelpingMuslims feel more welcome

A Montreal imamsays the new cemetery will help Muslims feel a sense of attachment to Quebec.

"To feel that we belong to a place we have tofind things that comfort our culture and our tradition," says Omar Kon.

"So obviously also a place where we can be buried is a primary thing to comfort that sense of being welcome."

Kon says for many people, knowing their bodies will not be sent back to their country of birth gives them a feeling of permanence.

"A lot of people were choosing to go back to their country, and now of course the feeling [of belonging] is going to be stronger," he says

The new cemetery should be ready for the first burials in September 2015.