https://usmc.oxomeka.org/files/original/52c1346a599bfdfc34e902d20af01731.png 22e5c0f5dff0a6be8baf90696ec92907 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived https://www.isgl.org/funeral-services/ Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Description An account of the resource This collection documents 29 cases of public opposition towards American Muslim cemetery building projects from 2002 to 2023. Each case contains a narrative that describes its events, which was compiled through analyzing newspaper archives via NewsBank and NexisUni. The primary challenge American Muslim communities face when establishing cemeteries is obtaining administrative approval from an entity such as a city council or board of commissioners. Residents' concerns related to groundwater contamination, lowered property values, and aesthetics often pressure authorities to deny cemetery projects. These reasons for opposition differ from those involving mosques, which tend to focus on increased traffic, violations of noise ordinances, and the potential for terrorism. This collection is more comprehensive than other compilations of cemetery cases, which cover a limited timeframe, are no longer current, or need to be updated (e.g., Pew Research Center 2012, Younes 2017, ACLU 2017, New America 2018, HuffPost 2024). However, it does not fully represent all controversies surrounding American Muslim cemeteries, as it focuses on post-2000 cases and does not include cases of vandalism against established cemeteries. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Ryan Wang Title A name given to the resource Cemeteries Language A language of the resource English Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Oxford College of Emory University Contributor An entity responsible for making contributions to the resource Current and former Oxford College of Emory University students: Sofia Fonti, Ben Damon, Geneva Cunningham, Ameer Alnasser, Nadira Hassan, Chloe Peyrebrune, Lauren Yee, Ammarah Ahmed, Alexander Cleveland, Ehren Fernandez, Andres Lebed Wright, Bryce Bentinck, Rahim Khan Alidina, Ayman Badawy, George Drakos, Shahmeer Khan, and Snehitha Vardhineni. Project supervisor: Dr. Florian Pohl Case Use this Item Type to create the case Item Pages for the U.S. Mosque Controversies site. Case Number Enter the case number in this field using the format: Case No. XX_00 (e.g. Case No. Ga_01) Case No. Ma_03 Location The location of the interview Walpole, MA Year Year the case began. 2014 Narrative Enter the narrative about the case here. In the summer of 2014, Al-Marhama Islamic Burial Services proposed the construction of a cemetery with 3,700 burial plots on three acres of open land in Walpole, MA. The Muslim group is part of the Islamic Society of Greater Lowell, which operates a mosque in Chelmsford, Massachusetts. In response to the Walpole Conservation Commission’s concerns about the use of wetlands located at the property, Al-Marhama reduced the size of its project to 3,400 grave sites (Seltz, 2014, Sep 3). After receiving clearance from the Conservation Commission, the project went before the Planning Board, which determined that Al-Marhama needed permission from the State Department of Environmental Protection and the local Board of Health (ibid.). Public opposition to the cemetery project was organized in an online group, Walpole for Clean Water, which circulated a petition with more than 350 signatures against the project. Adjacent property owners commissioned independent reviews of Al-Marhama’s site plan and hired legal counsel. In response, representatives of the Muslim community stressed that three professional studies had been conducted showing that groundwater contamination was unlikely, assured the residents that they would have protocols in place to avoid burials involving contagious diseases or radiation, and offered to use concrete encasements for all burials (Stuhlman, 2015, May 14). In a series of public meetings in early 2015, the Walpole Board of Health discussed the cemetery project. On May 12, the board had its final public hearing on the project at the local high school, where officers were present to keep the peace (Ferguson, 2015, May 14). Although the analysis from the Department of Environmental Protection found the cemetery did not pose a significant threat to the water supply and that contamination was very unlikely, the local Board of Health voted 4-0, with one abstention, to reject the project because it could contaminate the aquifer. Health Board member Carol Johnson summarized the Board’s decision by stating, "I am not totally convinced that this green cemetery would be responsible for any contamination, however, in good conscience, if there's the slightest, slightest possibility that this cemetery could result in the closing of this well, I need to vote accordingly" (ibid.). However, abstaining Health Board member Mona Bissany explained that chemicals from projects other than cemeteries were more likely to endanger the water supply and noted other burial grounds on aquifers that had been approved in the past (ibid.). Al-Marhama did not choose to appeal the Board of Health’s decision. The community continues to use a section of The Gardens at Gethsemane Cemetery in West Roxbury, MA, to bury deceased members. References <ul> <li style="font-weight:400;">Ferguson, K. (2015, May 14). Aquifer risk kills cemetery plan. Wicked Local. <a href="https://www.wickedlocal.com/story/times-advocate/2015/05/14/aquifer-risk-kills-cemetery-plan/34556488007/">Web</a>. </li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Seltz, J. (2014, September 3). Walpole aquifer complicates bid for Muslim cemetery. The Boston Globe. <a href="https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/regionals/south/2014/09/03/islamic-burial-service-proposes-build-muslim-cemetery-walpole/HMJeC51bEIc4fvYwRhfAPM/story.html">Web</a>.</li> <li style="font-weight:400;">Stuhlman, A. (2015, May 14). New concrete liner plan would come with size concerns. Walpole Times. Available through <a href="https://infoweb-newsbank-com.proxy.library.emory.edu/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&docref=news/15554614B2179BC0">NewsBank</a>.</li> </ul> Address Enter the full address, if it is available. At the corner of Rte. 1 and Foxhill Drive between the Hilltop Drive apartment complex and old driving range. Plus Code Enter the plus code for the location, if it is available. 4Q42+F8 Walpole, Massachusetts, USA Proposed Project The project plan included converting three acres of forest area into a Muslim cemetery with 3,400 burial plots. The property was in a zoning district where cemeteries were allowed by right. Proposed By List the entity (legal entity or community name) that proposed the project. <a href="https://www.isgl.org/funeral-services">Al Marhama Islamic Burial Services</a> Outcome Rejected, Approved, Approved with Modifications In May 2015, after acknowledging the property assessment by the Department of Environmental Protection, the Walpole Board of Health rejected the cemetery proposal in a 4-0 decision, citing fears that green burial practices would pollute the water supply since the site was on the town aquifer. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Description An account of the resource In May 2015, the Walpole Board of Health denied Al-Marhama Islamic Burial Services a special permit to construct a cemetery on three acres of land. The board justified its decision by citing potential groundwater contamination because the property sits atop the town’s aquifer. Al-Marhama conducted several environmental studies and offered interment in concrete caskets but did not appeal the board’s decision. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Sofia Fonti Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Oxford College of Emory University Title A name given to the resource Walpole, MA Cemetery Denied Planning and Zoning Public Campaign