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Muslim graves could displace 350,000 bodies
Ed Harris, Evening Standard11.10.07
A third of a million bodies could be dug up from a historic east London cemetery to make way for a new Muslim burial site.
Tower Hamlets council is considering reopening its Cemetery Park in Mile End in response to a long-running campaign for a Muslim graveyard in the area.
The park, off Bow Common Lane, was deconsecrated as a Church of England cemetery by Parliament in 1966, after being deemed full with about 350,000 bodies buried there.
Environmentalist and broadcaster David Bellamy is leading calls for the park to be kept as a wildlife haven. The botanist is patron of a charity that acts as the guardian of the graveyard.
The other options are to find land outside Tower Hamlets or redevelop the Bow Common gas works.
Councillors had asked officers to find ways of opening a Muslim-only cemetery but lawyers warned them that would be illegal. The authority then examined the possibility of a multi-faith site, clearing existing graves to create a new cemetery with an area set aside for Muslim burials.
The Rev Alan Green, chairman of the Tower Hamlets Inter-Faith Forum and dean for the borough, has warned of the "emotional, practical and ecological issues of removing thousands of bodies".
Reader views (12)
Wouldn't grave desicration go against Islamic beliefs? And with Muslims in Europe wanting equality, it's insanely hypocritical to demand a Muslim only burial site. If I were a Muslim, I would want to be buried somewhere closer to Mecca than England. The park is historic and should be declared a national landmark as we do to protected sites here in the U.S.
- Victor Erdahl, Washington, United States
I am enraged.
- Charles Martel, Hamilton Canada
My family have been intered in this hallowed ground for hundreds of years. Anyone with a sense of community, history and tranquility would leave this space for generations to respect and visit.
- John Trenbath, Queensland Australia
Max, I applaud your common sense! Wish that there were more Muslims like you!
Let me ask a more general question. Why is there a need for a Muslim cemetary? Can't they be buried in a cemetary with everyone else?
Just wondering.
- Notadhimmiyet, USA
I heard about this through a friend but I didn't believe her until I saw this article. I'm Muslim myself but for the love of all that is Holy don't displace thousands of people laid to rest, that's ridiculous! I can't believe anybody even suggested that!
- Sohaib, Ilford, England
I have relatives buried there! I absolutely oppose disturbing them!
- Linda, Hants, UK
This is an appalling idea. There are still relatives who visit and leave flowers at some graves. The cemetery is a piece of "countryside" in the middle of a highly developed area and is a bird and wildlife sanctuary. As a local I am incensed that the Council could even consider disturbing this beautiful place.
- Sue Grantley, London
Let the dead rest in peace.
- M. Tobin, Leamington, Canada
The proposal to destroy the Tower Hamlets Cemetery would be equivalent to concreting over all of Hyde Park. Get rid of the Council not the cemetery. This site is history and heritage and must be preserved at all costs. It is sites like this one that bring us Colonials back to the UK for visits.
- Ian Crook, Gosford, NSW, Australia
As a practicing Muslim I am aware of the need for burial grounds for Muslims. But I can't condone digging up existing graves to fulfil this, both from a personal and theological perpective.
I'm sad to hear that this was even suggested by the council.
I hope common sense prevails.
- Max, London
Leave it alone!
- Steve Evans, Malta
There is no way this should go ahead!
People are still lying underground, and although some of the tombstones are crumbling, it's an amazing place to see. (Sounds creepy I know, but it's not, trust me!)
But the place is a haven for all kinds of wildlife, plus it's big enough to jog or cycle through or around.
As a resident of the borough I hope they don't go in with the diggers.
- Scott, London
