The Integration of Death

Dr. Naadem Elyas, Muslim Central Council

"Why shouldn’t an Islamic organization, an Islamic religious community, that has resided here for decades, operate a cemetery? It would relieve the municipalities," said Elyas (photo).

Though municipalities have reached a compromise by setting up Muslim burial grounds like the one in Cologne, the Islamic burial procedure remains a further obstacle for Muslims.

Burial without a coffin

In the Islamic faith, the deceased are buried without a coffin, wrapped only in linen cloths. But across Germany a coffin is required and only a few town councils were willing to make exceptions to the rule.

In North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany’s most populous state, this law was recently changed. Individual communities can now decide for themselves whether to allow the coffin-free burial -- much to the dismay of Germany’s funeral industry.

"You have to consider that a funeral is a very dignified and solemn act, and the burial process is part of it," says Gernig, the head of the undertakers board. She points out how strange it would look if a family carried a body wrapped only in cloth to the gravesite.

"Of course, you also have to consider the hygienic aspects. The corpse can still discharge body fluids. So the coffin also fulfils a specific function,” she said.

A solution for everyone

Muslim burial ground in Cologne

City authorities in Cologne, where the burial ground is located (photo), have a similar position. Helmut Strack, who heads the city’s Cemetery Department, says he cannot expect his personnel to carry a corpse, which has maybe been dead for a few days, wrapped in only linen cloths.

But he wants to find a solution that will make everyone happy. One possibility would be having the deceased in a coffin until it reaches the gravesite and then bedding it without the coffin. Some other cities, such as Essen and Aachen, already make such concessions.

"We have to find an arrangement that is just for everyone and the procedure has to take place so that no one is offended," Strack said. "We’re talking about different cultures here."

Re-evaluating burial culture

In an effort to improve cultural sensitivity, undertakers are already being taught the entire spectrum of religions, rituals

A young German burial trainee

and customs during their vocational training in order to keep up with the changing needs of their future clients, said Gernig.

“We have fellow citizens from many different cultures and religions and we have to satisfy them, too,” she said.

The growing sensitivity, as well as legislative changes like the one made in North-Rhine Westphalia are encouraging signs for Elyas.

"The government and the parties that have introduced these laws have tied them to their goal of integration," he says. "And this is a sign that politicians have recognized the signs of the times. It will certainly give Muslims a feeling of security and belonging."