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Aylesbury family forced to bury Muslim child 50 miles away
A TODDLER had to be buried more than 50 miles from her family home after a town council was unable to provide burial staff.
The youngster, who was from an Aylesbury-based Muslim family, died on the morning of New Year’s Eve at the age of just two-and-a-half.
She then had to buried within 24 hours, based on the belief within the Muslim community that the dead should be buried as soon as possible.
However, when a family friend got into contact with Aylesbury Town Council, the authority which controls burials in the town, they were told that no-one was working on the Sunday, and therefore the burial would have to wait until Monday. She therefore had to be buried more than an hour’s journey away in Ilford, as that was the closest place which could accommodate the family’s needs.
A family friend, who wishes to remain anonymous, said the incident was very upsetting for the family of the little girl.
“It was vital that she was buried either on the Saturday or the Sunday,” he said.
“The family were very, very upset.
“Having to travel all that way – around 55 miles – to visit the grave is a long way indeed. Especially as the grandmother is an elderly lady.”
Town councillor Denise Summers brought up the issue at a recent town council meeting, in which the authority was heavily criticised for failing to attend to the family’s needs.
“I brought it up to see what policy the council had, as I was very taken aback by the news.
“I don’t think anybody wanted to come out because it was New Year’s Day.
“But at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter what your religion or culture is, the death of a child is universal, and while I understand that certain rules are in place to retain structure, in cases like this it is compassion that is necessary.
“I lost a baby myself about 27 years ago, and it was a very traumatic experience.
“The Jewish and Muslim community both have this belief, and when the Muslim community makes up more than 10 per cent of Aylesbury’s population, we must ensure we can accommodate.”
Leader of the town council, Steve Patrick, said the situation was a regrettable one and that he had taken it upon himself to look into changing the authority’s policy to ensure it does not happen again.
“It is unfortunate that we could not meet the needs of the family on this occasion,” he said.
“Anything like this is very upsetting, but we have a good relationship with local communities and look to maintain that.”
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Wednesday 22 February 2012
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Comments
There are 42 comments to this article
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Muvvers Pride
Thursday, February 2, 2012 at 08:30 AMHaving done a little further research into the underlying issue of burial services, I came across this extremely interesting alternative and Humanist burial website:http:www.thewellplannedfuneral.comtypes-of-funeralalternative-funerals. It seems that e.g. you do not actually have to hold a funeral ceremony; You aren't legally required to have a specific type of ceremony; Licensed buildings aren't required (except for Anglican services in England); Burial is allowed on private land with the landowner's permission (paricularly helpful to both those in the Islamic and Judaist faith communities); A clergyman isn't required; You needn't have a traditional pine coffin (other choices include biodegradable shrouds, wicker coffins and bamboo caskets) . There are also 200 woodland burial sites currently operating in the UK. Though this is all rather (sadly) academic to this particular Muslim family and child, perhaps the BH and ATC now will look into this whole alternative burial options further as I have recently asked both to do. Public education of such alternative options, I would suggest, might ensure or at least go a long way in ensuring, that no family and deceased loved ones in future would need to experience such added trauma as experienced by the family in this particular article, again. Regardless of which faith or non faith community they are part of.
Muvvers Pride
Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at 06:37 PM@ Comment 40: I think (as mentioned above) that this is not an appropriate setting to enter into any kind of debate. Especially theological disagreements between alleged Islamic and non-Islamic 'scholars'. I simply gave comment 37 a starting point to research Islamic matters further if they so wish. Let's not forget what the above article concerns itself with, and return our focus to that and that alone.
alchemist
Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at 10:57 AMIslamic theology and rulings on certain matters such as burial are not simple matters, if scholars have ruled muslim and non muslim burial sites should be separate, it will be based on sound reasoning and evidences collected from the Quran and sunnah (prophetic traditions) this is the reason muslims follow one out of 4 schools of thought. It’s not in most peoples capacity or practical to learn classical Arabic and read books written by scholars in the first four centuries after the prophet pbuh. There is consensus by all modern scholars that the 4 generations that came after the prophet p.b.u.h are correct. Most muslims follow a school of thought(There are 4 schools of thought) with the exception of one group who believe that the layman can make rulings and judgements based on what he understands from the Quran and prophetic traditions. Perfect example where Dave2 ( not doubting his sincerity) quoted a verse that said muslims should be buried where they die to support his case. However i clarified that this relates to someone who is travelling. The best resource that i know of for questions and answers to do with Islamic theology is http:qa.sunnipath.com Questions are answered on here by real scholars. All scholars are not equal. A traditional Islamic scholar is taught by a Sheikh and not just by reading and learning books, a true scholar of Islam will have learnt from his teacher that teacher than has to give his student permission (ijazah) to teach others before he can take a title of Sheikh. But here’s the amazing bit, a classical scholar will be able to trace this teaching linage all the way back to the 4 generations that came after The Prophet P.b.u.h quoting the names of every teacher student to about 800- 900 AD Note P.B.U.H is abr for Peace Be Upon Him must be said when mentioning any Prophet of God including Jesus p.b.u.h by muslims.
Muvvers Pride
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 07:41 PM@RJP (comment No.37)"... whereas the Prophet (salla allah âalayhi wa sallam) nowhere commands that the Muslim and non-Muslim cemeteries be separate and yet scholars have made such separation obligatory." Dr. Ahmad Shafaat, 'Islamic Perspectives' (October, 2004) (http:www.islamicperspectives.comBuryingNonMuslimInMuslimCemetery.htm). Hope this helps.
amused mum
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 05:40 PMIm pretty sure there is one side allocated for muslim burials by the Turnfurlong entrance in front of the car park on the left hand side.
RJP
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 04:37 PMCan someone tell me where Muslims are buried in Aylesbury? are they allowed to be buried in a non-Muslim graveyard?
JR
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 04:35 PMMuvver, I believe there were thoughts along the lines of a 'green burial site' many years ago but I suspect the long term development plans would have put the blocks on anything like that. I do like the idea of a non-religious burial and as neither of my parents were religious, they are both now resting at Olney's green burial site where a tree marks each grave.
Muvvers Pride
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 09:09 AMMuslim law instructs the deceased to be washed and buried without a coffin, with only a wrapping of white cloth in order to preserve dignity of the deceased, which is sometimes perfumed. No chemical preservatives or embalming fluid are used, nor is there a burial vault or casket, similar to the principles of natural burial. So an alternative ATC might look at could be the creation of a Natural Burial area somewhere around the town(http:www.justice.gov.ukdownloadsguidanceburials-and-coronersnatural-burial-grounds-guidance.pdf); with a dedicated 24 hour 7 days a week service, run by both themselves and members of the local faith communities. Though I'm a White English Nationalist I too offer my condolences to the bereaved Asian family. Losing a child for any member of any ethnic community (including the White English, White Irish, White Scottish and White Welsh communities) is a traumatic experience enough in itself. This particular experience then can only have compounded such trauma even further for the particular family in question. Points about the conversion of the UK to Christianity and conversion of Arab nations to Islam, quite simply, detract from the far more important issue of compassion: compassion for another human being, regardless of their ethnicity and chosen faith, who's lost something that is as equally as precious to us who are parents ourselves: a child. Some shared human experiences go beyond mere politics and social and cultural divisions. This is one of them.
JR
Monday, January 30, 2012 at 10:33 PMTaxpayer, you are correct, if you are on call, you don't go out drinking the night before - however, the article makes no mention of anyone being on call, just that no-one was working that day. What I was referring to was the 'compassion' aspect - someone saying "well, it's supposed to be my day off but I'll come out as an act of compassion. And as I said earlier. If the Muslims really have to have a burial within so many hours of the death, then why haven't they got some long-standing arrangement for their section of burial ground to be covered? (just as Ilford obviously has) As it happens, there is no specific time constraint mentioned in texts, just 'as soon as possible'. Downbutnotout, this "poor little girl" could have been buried local to her family but the family chose to have her buried elsewhere.
downbutnotout
Monday, January 30, 2012 at 09:00 PMI am shocked and sickened that this poor little girl could not be buried near her bereaved family. Whether you agree or disagree, the religious beliefs of this family should have been honoured and their little girl should have had the burial that her family wished for. My heart goes out to them. May she rest is peace.
Taxpayer
Monday, January 30, 2012 at 08:19 PMChelsealyn, I am not the one saying that this bereaved family has to "follow the rules" of the country they live in, so the arrogance and ignorance lies entirely with you. This country was CONVERTED to Christianity, paganism is the native faith. You are allowed to practice your religion according to its rules, why should a Muslim not? And as for JR's comments - if you are on call on a Bank Holiday, you don't drink, its not rocket science. And not everyone considers New Year or any other time an excuse to get so drunk they are still over the limit the next day. The family were offered a funeral on the Monday - still a New Year Bank Holiday - so why were the same arrangements not available on New Year's Day?
Chelsealyn
Monday, January 30, 2012 at 12:09 PMTaxpayer. I am a christina and proud of it. I do go to church which one is none of your business. This country is Christian and always will be I have no intention of changing my beliefs just to suit arrogant ignorant people like you.
JR
Sunday, January 29, 2012 at 02:10 PMThe article says that compassion is necessary - I wonder what would happen if the staff had used compassion & come out on New Years' day? What would the judge have said \ done if one or two of said staff were caught by the police for drink driving? Would the judge have used compassion? In my link at post 27, it clearly states that burial ground must be set aside for Muslims only. If Aylesbury has dedicated ground set aside for Muslim burials, why is there nothing in place for Muslim burials on Sundays or Bank Holidays IF burial must take place as soon as possible? Also, from the same site, a muslim MUST be buried in the locality in which he lived - 50 miles away IS NOT the locality of Aylesbury.
aylesburied
Sunday, January 29, 2012 at 10:54 AMMuslim burials must take place AS SOON AS IS POSSIBLE! SundayNew Year's Day it was not possible and therefore the burial could not take place. Any death is sad but to use this as some sort of attack on AVDC policies regarding funerals and bank holidays is very poor. My sympathies go to the family for their loss, but it was their choice to bury the child 50 miles away.
RGM
Saturday, January 28, 2012 at 09:26 PMSo once again we find that the BH has put a sensationalist headline on a story. The family wern't forced, but chose, to bury their child 50 miles away from home to conform to their interpretation of guidelines laid down in their holy book.
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