Page 14 - AUA TRAVLLER

Texas residents condemn
plan for Muslim cemetery

MUSLIMS say they’re looking for a

place to bury their dead. Locals say it’s
a plot to gain a foothold in their small
rural Texas town.

A proposal to bring a Muslim cemetery
to Farmersville has stoked fears among
residents who are vehemently trying to
convince community leaders to block the
project. The sentiment reflects an anti-
Muslim distrust that has been brewing
over the last year in parts of Texas, most
notably 25 miles away in Garland - the
scene of a deadly May shooting outside a
cartoon contest lampooning the Prophet
Muhammad.
“The concern for us is the radical ele-
ment of Islam,” David J. Meeks, pastor of
Bethlehem Baptist Church, told The Dal-
las Morning News. He said he thinks the
cemetery would be the first step toward
a broader Muslim expansion in town.
“How can we stop a mosque or madrassa
training center from going in there?”
he asked, referring to a type of Islamic
school.

The issue is flaring up as Farmersville that the association is simply trying to “When somebody dies, they bury them cemetery.”
leaders consider a 35-acre development secure a burial site. at that time,” Farmersville resident Troy There are about five Muslim cemeteries
request from the Islamic Association of Concerns over Muslim cemeteries Gosnell told KTVT-TV. “You don’t know in North Texas and they have little re-
Collin County, which faces a shortage of gained national attention in 2010 when whether they were shot, diseased or maining space, so the association needs
space to bury members of its faith. Al- the town of Sidney Center in New York anything else. All they do is wrap them more land for burial, said Alia Salem, ex-
though the area already has a Buddhist voted to investigate how Muslims were in a sheet, throw them in the grave and ecutive director of the Dallas-Fort Worth
center and Mormon church, residents burying their dead. The issue was quick- bury them.” chapter of the Council on American-
showed up in force at a recent town ly dropped after local leaders received Burial experts dismiss such concerns and Islamic Relations.
meeting to oppose allowing a Muslim widespread criticism. comments as nonsense.
cemetery, which would include an open- Khalil Abdur-Rashid, a spokesman for Salem told The Associated Press that
air pavilion and small retail component Many residents of Farmersville, a pre- the Islamic association, said misinforma- state rules limit the places where a new
that would run along a busy highway dominantly white community of ap- tion and confusion are fueling critics. He cemetery can be placed, and Farmers-
through town. proximately 3,500 residents about 35 said shrouded bodies would be placed ville was one of the few options open
“There’s just a basic concern or distrust miles northeast of Dallas, are pushing in caskets and entombed in vaults un- to the association. The purchase of the
about the cemetery coming into town,” their leaders to take a similar stand. derground, and that the plans for the land was completed this week, she said.
said Mayor Joe Helmberger, who calls Some oppose the project because it cemetery have more to do with “human “We do want to take this opportunity
the townspeople’s worries unwarranted. would attract Muslims, while others dignity” than religion. to address misconceptions,” she said,
He said the cemetery would be approved expressed concern that Muslim burial “Some thought it was a mosque going to explaining that in many cases residents
as long as the town’s development stan- practices - Muslims traditionally don’t be built, others thought it was a training are simply seeking answers.
dards are met, pointing out that the U.S. bury their dead in caskets - would pres- ground,” Abdur-Rashid told WFAA-TV. “The questions about what this means
was founded on religious freedom and ent health risks for residents. “We want to be very clear that this is a for them, that’s legitimate.”

14 INTERNATIONAL Monday, July 20 2015 - ARUBA TRAVELLER