Row over plans to bury copies of the Koran at a Birmingham cemetery so Muslims can dispose of their worn out texts
- Area is being set aside at Handsworth cemetery in Birmingham for Koran burial
- Korans will only be interred on land where people do not normally walk
- Minority of critics to policy branded 'clueless', 'bigots' and 'racist'
- Council and faith groups welcome decision for one of Britain's first sites
A special plot for Muslims to bury copies of the Koran at a city cemetery has been approved.
The area is being set aside at Handsworth cemetery in Birmingham to allow people to 'respectfully dispose of old, worn out and damaged copies' of their holy book.
Birmingham City Council have given an assurance that the Korans will only be interred on pieces of land where people do not normally walk.
Handsworth has plots for Christian and Muslim burials but an area for the holy text is a first and has delighted the city's mosques. The practice already takes place in nearby Coventry and Leicester.
But the policy has sparked fury among a minority of locals, who have been branded 'racist bigots' for criticising the plan.
New policy: The area is being set aside at Handsworth cemetery in Birmingham (pictured_ to allow people to 'respectfully dispose of old, worn out and damaged copies' of the Koran.
Promise: Birmingham City Council have given an assurance that the Korans will only be interred on pieces of land where people do not normally walk
Writing on their local newspaper's website, the Birmingham Mail, 'Luckytag' said: 'I would like to see what would happen if they buried bibles at a mosque - it would never happen.
'I worked for a company that went round collecting rubbish from shops houses etc we had loads of these we just burnt em problem solved.'
Another correspondent, called 'Countylass' said: 'This country gets more ridiculous by the day ...... whatever next?????'
The critical comments of the policy and Handsworth led to a stream of vitriol in their direction.
Terry Johnson said: 'Well that's woke up (sic) all the bigots.'
HarryBa said 'Why don't you take a Bible to a mosque and ask them to bury it, or dispose of it. I'm 100% any decent proper mosque would be happy to help you dispose of it in a respectable manner.'.
David786 said: 'Muslims believe the bible is the word of god and have utmost respect for it. A plot in the cemetery will not harm you, you are acting like it's in your back garden.'
The plan follows a joint campaign by the Stechford Mosque and Birmingham city councillor Neil Eustace, who said 'The respectful disposal of damaged or worn out Qur'an is very important to devout Muslims.'
Handsworth has plots for Christian and Muslim burials but an area for the holy text is a first and has delighted the city's mosques
He said a special burial place was needed because many mosques and homes in inner-city Birmingham lack the space or grounds for it.
Coun Eustace, the member for Stechford and Yardley North, added 'I am delighted to have helped organise this facility for Muslims in Birmingham. Respect for each other's religion is important.
'Throwing the copies in the bin or burning them would cause distress and is out of the question. Burying them in Handsworth Cemetery is the best option.'
The Imam for Stechford Mosque, Professor Tahir Mahmood Kiani, said 'The holy book must always be treated with respect.
'When a copy of the Holy Koran has become very old and splitting at the seams and the pages have become worn and torn, it is better to not use such a copy lest it falls apart and disintegrates while someone is holding it.
'Such copies need to disposed of. However, due to the unique revered status the Holy Koran holds, disposing of it in a respectful manner is paramount..'
He said that a number of methods could be used, including placing the book in a river so the ink was washed away, but the preferred way was to wrap it in a cloth and bury it.
Mosque chairman Mohammed Yasin said 'The Muslim community in Birmingham is facing difficulty in finding a suitable area to safely dispose the the torn holy book.
'We are grateful that Birmingham City Council and its officers helped us.'
The service is available through mosques and via appointment only.
Details of the size of plot are still being negotiated, a council spokesman said.
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