Birmingham Cemetery Burial Rules Overlooked Say Muslim Families

Muslim families feel disrespected, and they worry the council ignores their burial wishes. Birmingham City Council faces criticism due to issues at Sutton New Hall Cemetery. People complain about the lack of prayer and washing spots. A family reported that gravediggers lacked cement, which is used to seal the body after burial. This family felt distraught, with mourners watching. Burial fees rose, hours got shorter, and burials face delays, adding to the distress. Councillor Choudhry spoke about this issue and mentioned a family’s bad experience, raising concerns about disrespect towards Muslims.

He questioned basic services at the cemetery, noting the lack of prayer facilities and washing areas, despite requests. Promises to fix things yielded no change. One family contacted Choudhry, upset by the burial, describing the service as “shambolic.” Local rules require a sealed finish for burials, using plastic, slabs, and cement. However, the family said sand replaced cement and called the job “half done.”

The family thought the council showed carelessness and felt leaders should feel ashamed to witness the disrespect to families. Other councillors shared similar concerns. Currently, rising burial fees also cause worry, and it seems some groups are affected more. A standard grave costs £2,750, a 10% rise; interment also rose 10%, costing £1,320; and cremation costs £880, also up 10%.

Muslims and others do not approve of cremation, so burial remains the only option for them. Fee increases could unfairly hurt some groups. People want investment in a body scanner to avoid invasive post-mortem exams. One scanner has worked in Sandwell since 2014. Concerns exist about disrespecting the body, and graveyards’ state causes problems too, with Yardley and Handsworth cemeteries showing issues.

Maintenance worsened despite higher fees, and areas around graves look overgrown now. Councillors say promises went unfulfilled, with widows sitting by graves in muddy areas. They say their mourning deserves respect. Choudhry raised concerns at a council meeting, noting a lack of basics like cement and stating that people weren’t getting paid services. Council leader Cotton pledged to address this.

The council says fees match other areas, and they face costs with cemetery services, covering burials and upkeep later. Birmingham plans to expand cemeteries to meet future burial needs. The council is considering prayer facilities, but they say other cemeteries lack these options. The cemetery did not report lacking cement, but they will investigate.