Thousands call for urgent action as Muslim burial sites ‘are nearly full’ in Sheffield

More than 4,450 people signed a petition calling for action to ensure there are enough Muslim burial sites in Sheffield as two out of four are full.
Molly Williams
By Molly Williams
Published 4th Feb 2022, 16:28 BST
Updated 4th Feb 2022, 16:57 BST
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Ibrar Hussain, a former councillor, presented the petition at a full council meeting this week, saying there needed to be a long-term plan in place.

He added: “Because of the ever-growing Muslim community in Sheffield we need to make sure we don’t just plan for two or three years, we need to plan for many years ahead…

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“The provision is only for the next two to three years, with the rate it’s going at in the current climate that is not going to be enough and we don’t want to be scratching our heads when it hits us on the head…The community needs to know in clear terms that there is a commitment and you are going to resolve this.”

Councillor Alison Teal, co-operative executive member for sustainable neighbourhoods, responding to a petition for action to ensure there are enough Muslim burial sites.Councillor Alison Teal, co-operative executive member for sustainable neighbourhoods, responding to a petition for action to ensure there are enough Muslim burial sites.
Councillor Alison Teal, co-operative executive member for sustainable neighbourhoods, responding to a petition for action to ensure there are enough Muslim burial sites.
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Councillor Alison Teal, co-operative executive member for sustainable communities, said: “Clearly this is a really important and pressing issue for many people in the community.

“As you have said, we have got four designated sites used for Muslim burial. City Road and Shiregreen are still available and as you have mentioned, Tinsley Darnall and Abbey Lane are no longer available.

"This means that we do need to find new sites and officers are very much aware of this. I know that councillor Abdul Khayum from Labour has been doing work on this and also councillor Mohammed Mahroof from the Lib Dems.

Ibrar Hussain, former councillor, presenting a petition calling for action to ensure there are enough Muslim burial sites in Sheffield.Ibrar Hussain, former councillor, presenting a petition calling for action to ensure there are enough Muslim burial sites in Sheffield.
Ibrar Hussain, former councillor, presenting a petition calling for action to ensure there are enough Muslim burial sites in Sheffield.

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“What we have done now is we are going to set up a stakeholder group to look at actually taking a multi-faith approach because there are a number of other communities that also have special provision.

“You mentioned about the time sensitive issue for Muslim burial, I am told there are more staff receiving training to use diggers so they are able to speed up that process of providing grave plots as and when necessary in a timely manner.

“We have currently got six years provision available which I hope is reassuring and of course we do need to have a longer-term strategy, more like 20 years and we are talking with colleagues in property services to ensure we have land available.”

Related topics:Sheffield