Around 100 headstones were removed from Bohemian National Cemetery without prior notice, leaving families shocked and prompting the Muslim Community Center (MCC) to host a town hall meeting on Sunday to address concerns.
Earlier this month, families with loved ones buried at the cemetery on Chicago’s Far North Side discovered the headstones had been removed unexpectedly. On Sunday, the MCC held a town hall to provide answers and address the community’s concerns.
The unexpected removal caught families off guard, as they were unaware their relatives’ headstones didn’t meet current cemetery regulations. “It’s a difficult and sensitive situation,” said Mustafa Chaudhry, one of the affected individuals.
The section of Bohemian National Cemetery near Bryn Mawr Avenue and Pulaski Road is reserved for MCC members. “MCC’s role is limited to processing requests,” explained Amjad Quadri, chairman of the MCC Public Relations Committee. “Responsibility for the cemetery grounds lies with Bohemian Cemetery.”
Cemetery officials explained that the headstones had been installed “against the rules and regulations of Bohemian National Cemetery and The Muslim Community Center,” leading to their removal. The markers must meet specific criteria for uniformity and groundskeeping, but many families were unaware of these rules.
Chaudhry, who visited the cemetery last week, found his father’s grave among those affected. “A lot of them were broken. In my case, my father’s headstone was missing, so I couldn’t locate it,” he said, adding, “It’s emotional, and we’re all trying to figure out what happened.”
After the town hall, MCC officials helped families arrange replacements. The MCC also offered to cover costs for those unable to afford new headstones on a case-by-case basis. In the meantime, temporary markers are expected to be placed within the next two weeks.
Sunday marked five years since Chaudhry’s father, Mohammad, passed away. Instead of marking the occasion as he normally would, part of his day was spent working to replace his father’s headstone. “With a sensitive issue like this, you need help knowing who to turn to,” he said.
By Sunday afternoon, many removed headstones had been picked up by family members, though some remain unclaimed. MCC officials expressed regret over the situation, with Quadri clarifying, “MCC is not involved in the operations or removal of the grave markers. We deeply regret the distress this has caused.”
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