CASTLE ROCK TOWNSHIP, Minn. – After a decade of delays, legal problems and vandalismMinnesota’s first Muslim-exclusive cemetery broke ground in the south metro on Tuesday.
The 72 hectares of land was purchased in 2014 by the Al-Maghfirah Cemetery Association in Castle Rock Township near Farmington.
“This has always been a dream of the Muslim community to have their own cemetery,” said Jaylani Hussein, executive director of the Minnesota chapter of the Council of American-Islamic Relations.
There was a legal battle against the development by the council before it was hit by vandals in 2017 and 2021.
WCCO
According to the advocacy group, someone reported smelling a gas leak at the location in 2021. Community members responded and found more than 30 tires placed inside a building, cutting a major gas line inside.
Hussein told WCCO in 2021 that he believed whoever cut the gas line intended to cause an explosion. He said it was a botched arson, causing more than $200,000 in damage.
“Today we show that love conquers. Today we show that our community is resilient,” Hussein said. “We have the right to bury our loved ones just like everyone else.”
It is a space where basic Islamic burial rituals can be practiced.
“I mean, this is what we dreamed of. Amazing to be honest,” said Mohamad Osman, project leader of the Al-Maghfirah Cemetery Association.
The cemetery is expected to open in May 2025.
