A LEADING member of the Islamic faith in East Renfrewshire who wants council chiefs to provide a new Muslim burial ground has said “progress” is being made.

Usman Ali was approached by several members of the Muslim community who raised concerns about funeral arrangements in the area.

In a letter to East Renfrewshire Council, he outlined problems at Cathcart Cemetery.
Mr Ali told the Barrhead News: “Like the Jewish religion, we can’t get cremated – we can only get buried and our custom says we have to bury our loved ones within 24 hours of them passing away.

“That’s the first problem. On occasions when there are multiple burials awaiting, bereaved families often must choose between waiting until the next day or choosing another alternative site.

“The second issue is access. They want to build a cycle lane on the already-narrow street next to Cathcart Cemetery but this could limit car parking options.

Mr Ali’s third concern involves the prospect of Cathcart Cemetery running out of space for burials.

“The cemetery is near capacity,” said Mr Ali. "The 2011 Census reported that 3.3 per cent of the population of East Renfrewshire was Muslim – an increase of 1.2 per cent from the 2001 Census.”

Responding to Mr Ali’s letter, Gillian McCarney, the council’s Chief Planning Officer, said: “East Renfrewshire Council is aware of diminishing burial capacity for all faiths within its boundaries.

“The council is exploring options for cemetery expansion and/or new cemeteries. Unfortunately, there is no suitable land within the boundaries of Cathcart and no simple option in the locality.”

Ms McCarney added that the council’s roads and neighbourhood services teams are working on solutions which balance the needs of access and parking at the cemetery without compromising the safety of cyclists using the existing lane at Netherlee Road.

Mr Ali said: “I am very grateful to East Renfrewshire for responding in such a helpful and positive manner to explore the real concerns the local Muslim community face regarding burial space, timing and cemetery accessibility issues.

“The council is aware of the religious sensitivities and I welcome their commitment to identify potential grounds to expand or build new cemeteries for all of East Renfrewshire’s diverse communities.

"I look forward to helping to achieve further progress at future meetings the council have committed to with the Muslim community and others once current Covid-19 restrictions have eased.”