'Our Muslim burial site will put us at peace'

Abida Bano (left), Ruksana Iqbal (centre) and Irreum Iqbal, said it was reassuring to know the land will never be built on as it was owned by the community

A community said it was proud to have raised £1m in funds over five years to build a Muslim cemetery.

Construction work was due to begin in a matter of weeks on former farmland by Green End Road, behind Kempston Cemetery, in Bedfordshire.

The £3m project will have space for 4,800 plots and will be open seven days a week, as Muslims are expected to begin funeral arrangements soon after death and burial should take place as soon as possible.

Irreum Iqbal said it "gives us peace knowing that we're going to be able to fulfil those final rights for our loved ones at such a difficult time".

Members of Bedford Muslim Cemetery said they will carry on fundraising to pay for the rest of the cemetery that will gradually grow over the years

"We're really proud to be part of this phase; people have been really generous with their fundraising,“ Ms Iqbal added.

"It gives us peace knowing that we're going to be able to fulfil those final rights for our loved ones at such a difficult time in people's lives; we'll be able to make things a little easier."

Ruksana Iqbal said the Bedford Women's Committee had been fundraising for many years to raise about £1m.

"We've been baking, cooking, donating things, we're very grateful."

Abida Bano said the whole project had "been amazing, through everyone's hard work and efforts it's been possible.”

She said the women's committee would carry on fundraising.

Parvez Akhtar said the group worked with Bedford Borough Council to get formal approval

Parvez Akhtar, one of the cemetry committee members, said: "This is another way of showing it as an asset to our community.”

He said construction work, including a car park and new access road, would start in the next few weeks and should be open by the autumn.

"It's been a huge struggle, it's a huge relief we're at this stage now."

Mohammed Iqbal said "the community is happy" and thanked the council for its support for the project

Mohammed Iqbal, chairman of Bedford Muslim Cemetery, said it would benefit the whole community as it would take pressure away from Bedford's cemetery, Norse Road, where Muslims were currently buried.

"This helps us as a community to honour that religious obligation," he said.

"We can bury here seven days, at Norse Road, we can only do it for five days, that's the reason we've bought this land."

Aqib Hussain said the cemetery was "such a big thing for Bedford"

Aqib Hussain, committee treasurer, believed it would be the only Muslim burial site in Bedfordshire.

He said the group, made up of volunteers, had allocated 200 graves for anyone, from any religion, or any part of the community, to be buried on the site if they did not have the funds.

"If we need to have more, we have space for it,“ he added.

The building of the site, which is currently a field is being carried out by White Horse

Tom Wootton, the Conservative elected Mayor of Bedford Borough, said the project had been fully backed by all its 46 councillors.

"It reflects our shared values of respect, inclusion, and dignity, ensuring that all members of our community, in life and in death, are treated with the care and consideration they deserve,” he said.