French Interior Minister Addresses Shortage of Muslim Burial Spaces in Cemeteries

The Minister of the Interior has been very concerned about the situation these Muslim families are going through, who in addition to losing their loved ones, must suffer the pain of burying them far from home and away from the Muslim sections. Christophe Castaner has wished that the prefects accompany the dialogue between the Muslim leaders and the municipalities concerned.

While emphasizing the principle of neutrality of cemeteries, the minister has stressed the importance of respecting the free choice of each individual. During the videoconference, the Minister of the Interior agreed that issues related to "respect for Muslim funeral rites can be discussed with his services as part of a working group to be set up in order to get out of the current crisis". The minister proposes that "solutions to the difficulties posed within the strict framework of secular principles and in the spirit of the circular of February 19, 2008".

The issue of Ramadan, which occurs in a period marked by the consequences of the pandemic, was at the heart of the discussions. The CFCM reassured Christophe Castaner that "Muslims have prepared for it by drawing from their faith and traditions the means to live this important moment while staying at home". The Council added that "the principle of preserving life, fundamental in the Muslim religion, must modulate all religious and cultural activities and call for extreme vigilance".

The CFCM therefore calls on Muslim believers in France to "favor pre-packaged meal formulas and ensure their distribution according to a mode defined with the local public authorities".