Thorold council vote to amend cemetery bylaw to accommodate Muslim burials

Councillors in the City of Thorold have voted to amend the city’s cemetery bylaw so that it accommodates muslim burial traditions.

This comes after a local Muslim family says they were denied a local burial for their daughter last year.

The amendment to the city’s cemetery bylaw would allow for burials facing Mecca, which is a critical Muslim burial practice.

However, one councillor says he’s still disappointed with the outcome, because council voted not to open a certain section in the cemetery — where a Muslim child is already interred.

“The result was bittersweet,” said Thorold City Councillor Tim O’Hare.

In a 5 to 4 vote held Tuesday Thorold councillors opened the door for Muslim burials to face Mecca in Lakeview Cemetery, but O’Hare says it’s not enough.

“It would have been nice to have a little bit more compassion,” said O’Hare.

READ MORE: Thorold council defers bylaw changes after city failed to meet burial needs

Council voted to re-orient plots in Section H of the cemetery, but O’Hare wanted council to choose to open Section A, where a Muslim child had already been interred.

“Ideally I would have liked Section A, because that would have included one from the community who is already interred there to be reunited with relatives, friends, et cetera, however that was voted down,” said O’Hare.

A friendly amendment was introduced that offers the family of the child the choice to have them exhumed and moved to Section H.

Imam Asad Mahmood, the founder and president of Mosque Aisha, says that option is not possible.

“Once you bury someone, you know, you bury someone,” said Mahmood. “You don’t want to move around your loved ones for any community members.”

He says he feels the council is not listening to the community with their decision, because Section H is already open and he says the community was hoping for a dedicated section.

“You’re not giving me an option, you’re just forcing me to take what is being offered — you’re not being justice,” said Mahmood. “I don’t think they did anything in the last meeting.”

WATCH MORE: Thorold Muslim family says they were denied local burial for their daughter

The burial issue in Thorold made national headlines last year, when the family of 18-year-old Alina Masud, who died in an accident on Highway 406, was buried in Niagara Falls after her family was told that the desired grave at the Thorold cemetery violated a bylaw that did not allow the sale of burial plots in unopened sections of the cemetery.

Counc. O’Hare says he has been fighting for years to get dedicated sections for all religions to avoid issues like this.

“In the past few years, more and more segregation and dedicated areas are being recognized as supporting distinct traditions and are encouraging inclusivity within our communities,” said O’Hare.

The Imam says the community has been shaken by the burial issue.

He says he didn’t see any significant movement from the council Tuesday, which is why he says he is considering running for council to be a voice for minorities.

WATCH MORE: Family, supporters gather for vigil after Thorold fails to meet burial needs