Norway: Muslim cemetery only for city residents

The church in Drammen rejects Muslims from other municipalities who wish to be buried in the Muslim cemetery in Skoger. The Muslim cemetery was set up seven years ago. It is now so full that the church decided in April that only Muslims from the municipality will be buried there.

Churchwarden Ivar Nygård says priority should be given to their own residents.

Six people were buried in the cemetery in 2005, and 14 in 2006. The cemetery lies in its own separate area with the graves facing Mecca.

Nygård says that some immigrants also bury relatives there, rather then sending them to their homeland, but he says there are no plans to enlarge the cemetery since there is still enough place for several more years.

Source: NRK (Norwegian)

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