Kazi Ali, the Muslim community leader, was frustrated to see that the Rookwood cemetery was almost full. It was he who helped turn a ranch into a Muslim graveyard full of palm trees 40 years ago.
Many of the people who helped Ali (Ali) build the cemetery in the 1980s are now sleeping in the place where 6000 Muslim are buried. Ali's daughter was buried behind a white pointed fence. His former teacher was buried here, too.
"our tradition is to plant trees in the graveyard because we believe that when Rain Water falls on the cemetery, it will permeate the hearts of the dead." He said。
Rookwood's Muslim cemetery will be full in a few years, while Riverstone's Muslim cemetery has only 50 places left.
But in what is described as a "perfect example of interreligious cooperation," the nonprofit Catholic Metropolitan Cemetery Foundation this week agreed to offer its 4500 new locations at the Kemps Creek cemetery in the Sydney West end to the Muslim community to address this pressing problem.
If action is not taken now, all Sydney cemeteries will be exhausted within 20 years. Those who have to be buried according to their religious beliefs face an imminent shortage of cemeteries.
Many people accused the city hall of inaction. The chief executive of the Catholic cemetery, Peter O\ x {e16c} 39 Meara, who is awaiting approval of two hundred and twenty thousand burial sites for West Sydney, said the city hall's decision not to approve the new cemetery was "stupid."
"I have enough land to solve the problem of Jewish, Muslim and Christian cemeteries who believe in burial. But we're in the middle of a political twist on the local government. " "We have had land for graveyards since 2013. Waiting for the city hall green light to get tired, five years later, we're still waiting for approval. "
In addition to Rookwood and Kemps Creek, the Catholic Church also plans to build new cemeteries in Varrovill, southwest of Sydney, near Campbelltown, and Wallacia, in the west of Sydney, but were blocked by local government. In 2013, the Catholic Church spent A $15 million on 113ha of Varroville. There are 136000 burial places available.
The church says public support for this is overwhelming, but the city hall has repeatedly rejected the proposal. The Church also purchased 42 hectares of land near the existing golf course in Wallacia, providing 88000 burial spaces while retaining the course to meet the needs of population growth in the Penrith area.
About 30 percent of families in Sydney opt for burial rather than cremation. O'Meara calls on the new state government to approve these graveyard plans to meet growing needs and ensure equal access to cemeteries for people of all religions.
The new Muslim cemetery in the Kemps Creek cemetery costs about 4 million to build. After negotiations, the Muslim received A $6700 per hole and A $7441 for both. Babies and the poor will be buried free of charge.
The Catholic cemetery, CEO O\ x {e16c} 39 Meara, agreed to consider building a small house at the Kemps Creek cemetery so that Muslim could wash his feet and pray before sweeping his grave. This move touched the Muslim community. "this noble move touched the heart of every Muslim in Australia." Ali said.
He said people found it hard to believe when they heard the news. "are you sure? Is he really willing? " They asked that people who could not believe another religion would be willing to do this for them. Ali and Oz 39 Meara vowed to do their utmost to make it happen.