Around a hundred individuals gathered for a vigil at Thorold, Ont.’s city hall to pay tribute to an 18-year-old woman who tragically passed away in a recent car accident. The attendees also voiced their disapproval of the city’s abrupt refusal of her family’s plea for Muslim burial arrangements at a public cemetery.
The vigil later transitioned inside the city hall, where the lobby filled up as city councillors and staff proceeded to a council meeting. The deceased, Alina Masud, resided in Thorold and pursued psychology studies at Brock University in St. Catharines, Ont. Dreaming of a career in criminal psychology, she was the middle child among three siblings.
Tragically, Masud lost her life in a collision on Highway 406 on the evening of Dec. 3. Initially permitted by the family’s imam and the director of Lakeview Cemetery, a city-owned facility, to be buried on Dec. 6 in a designated Muslim burial section facing Mecca, the burial plans were abruptly halted just an hour before the scheduled ceremony when Thorold councillors denied the accommodation request.
During this distressing time, Malik Masud, Alina’s father, expressed the immense stress and crisis they faced when their burial request was turned down. The community’s overwhelming support provided solace, with Malik stating, “I see the support, the community. I’m not alone.”
Concerns were raised by individuals from across the Niagara Region about the limited availability of space for Muslim burials. Binoy Mahmud, a former president of Brock University’s Muslim Students’ Association, emphasized the personal connection many had with Alina, highlighting her presence in their daily lives and shared aspirations.
Following the sudden denial, the family managed to bury Masud at the Islamic Cemetery of Niagara in Niagara Falls, Ont. Dr. Yousef Haj-Ahmad, founder of the Haj-Ahmad Family Foundation, lamented the lack of burial space for the Muslim community in the region, stressing the importance of local facilities for such needs.
The Ontario Bereavement Authority is currently investigating the matter, refraining from comments at this stage. Thorold city conveyed condolences to the family and offered an alternative burial option, which the family declined due to the predominant non-Muslim graves in that area.
Efforts to secure a dedicated Muslim burial section in Thorold commenced in 2023 but faced setbacks, with the city eventually returning the funds and citing an inability to segregate the cemetery. A bylaw enforced in 2023 restricted plot sales in specific areas until existing sections were filled, arousing debate over alleged segregation concerns in the public cemetery.
Protesters urged city councillors to reconsider the bylaw, emphasizing the importance of accommodating diverse faith practices within the community.