A wave of tranquility washes over you. You stand before the Cimetière musulman public in Strasbourg. This isn’t just a cemetery. It’s a testament to integration. It’s a unique place in France.
The Cimetière musulman public opened in 2012. It’s one of only two public cemeteries in mainland France exclusively for Muslim burials. The other is in Bobigny. Its creation addressed the growing need for dedicated Muslim burial spaces. The increasing number of Muslims choosing burial in France rather than repatriation fueled this need. Strasbourg’s city council unanimously approved its construction. The project cost 800000 euros.
Unlike most of France the Alsace-Moselle region has a unique legal framework. This allows for the construction of public confessional cemeteries. This is despite Islam not being mentioned in the 1801 Concordat. Article 15 of a decree from 1804 stipulates that in municipalities with multiple religions each can have a specific burial site. This legal exception made the Cimetière musulman public possible.
Its inauguration was a significant event. Mayor Roland Ries and former Mayor Fabienne Keller attended. Representatives from Catholic Protestant and Jewish faiths were also present. Mohammed Moussaoui president of the French Council of the Muslim Faith was there too. The cemetery is designed with the Regional Council of the Muslim Faith and local Muslim associations. It features prayer spaces and facilities for ritual washing of the deceased. Cremation is forbidden in Islam. Therefore the cemetery includes an ossuary for the remains of abandoned or expired concessions.
The cemetery’s creation is a powerful symbol. It represents a shift in how the Muslim community is viewed in France. It also speaks to the changing demographics of France. The desire of many to be buried in the land they call home transcends religious boundaries.
Many prominent figures are buried here. They include Mohamed Choukri and Abdelouahab Abdoun cofounders of Strasbourg’s Grand Mosque. Imam Hassan Al Atyaioui is another. Ahmed Amrioui cofounder of the Robertsau Mosque is also buried here. Aziz El Alouani a Muslim actor in interfaith dialogue rests here as well.
This cemetery is more than just a place of rest. It’s a place of remembrance a place of peace. It is a place where a community finds solace and belonging. It is a place that exemplifies France’s ongoing dialogue on integration and inclusion. It is a significant part of Strasbourg’s unique history. The Cimetière musulman public shows us that even in death we can find community and acceptance.