Canada’s Quebec City gets its first Muslim cemetery

In the past, Muslim residents of Quebec City had to transport their dead for more than 160 miles if they wanted an Islamic burial, despite the city having its first mosque since the late 1970s. 

In the past, Muslim residents of Quebec City had to transport their dead for more than 160 miles if they wanted an Islamic burial, despite the city having its first mosque since the late 1970s. 

Today, Quebec City, the capital of Canada’s only French-speaking province, has been given the go ahead for its first ever Islamic cemetery, coming at a very crucial time where the province has banned hijab wearers from holding public service jobs.  

The mayor of Quebec City, Régis Labeaume, finally accented his signature to a deed of sale for a pocket of land that will become the city’s first ever Muslim cemetery later this year.

The cemetery will start conducting burials in spring after the Muslim Organization of Quebec and Levis (TCOM) alliance paid $270,000 ($US 206,000) to the city in July last year.

“This is a highly appreciated moment,” says Boufeldja Benabdallah, now head of the biggest mosque in Quebec City.