Rabby Syed, a member of the Muslim community, said the Department of Public Lands will allow them to use a portion of the Tanapag cemetery.
But Syed said DPL Secretary John Del Rosario also told him that only the Legislature can officially designate a cemetery for the Muslim community through legislation.
About 400 members of the Saipan Baitus Salam Jame Masjid have asked Gov. Benigno R. Fitial to allocate a portion of public lands as a burial site for the Muslim community on Saipan.
Syed said Muslims on Saipan comprise Bangladeshi, Indians, Chinese, Malaysians, Thais, Indonesians, Filipinos and Sri Lankans.
The Muslims here need a cemetery, he said, because “it is hard for the Muslim community members to send their dead loved ones back to their countries of origin, considering the high cost of airfare.”
He added, “We also need to have our own cemetery to provide burial arrangements to our members in accordance with Muslim rituals and customs.”
Syed said they will request the Legislature to allow them to use “even a small portion of area at the Tanapag cemetery.”
