Minnesota's First Muslim Cemetery Breaks Ground After Years of Vandalism, Legal Battles
The Al-Maghfirah Cemetery Association purchased 72 acres of land in Castle Rock Township near Farmington in 2014.
"This was always a dream of the Muslim community to have its own cemetery," said Jaylani Hussein, executive director of the Minnesota chapter of the Council of American-Islamic Relations, CBS News reported.
The development faced legal opposition from the township and was vandalized in 2017 and 2021.
In 2021, community members discovered more than 30 tires inside a building at the site, where a large gas pipe had been cut, causing a gas leak. Hussein described the incident as a failed arson attack, resulting in over $200,000 in damage.
"Today we show that love wins. Today we show that our community's resilient," Hussein said. "We have a right to bury our loved ones just like everybody else."
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"I mean, this is what we dreamed for. Amazing to be honest," said Mohamad Osman, project leader of the Al-Maghfirah Cemetery Association.
The cemetery is scheduled to open in May 2025.
Source: Agencies
