The Board of Selectmen in Dudley has waived the town’s right to purchase property where an Islamic group plans to establish a cemetery.
The board’s back and forth with the Islamic Society of Greater Worcester over the proposed cemetery has prompted accusations of discrimination and a federal civil rights investigation. Dr. Amjad Bahnassi, the chairman of the Islamic Society, spoke with WGBH’s The Takeaway.
“The comments we heard from the people during the reviews appeared to be not very favorable comments—appeared to have some Islamophobia, I would call it,” he said.
Dudley’s town counsel, Gary Brackett, said if the Islamic Society had provided the required documentation months ago, the board would likely have made the same decision much earlier.
“The failure on the part of the applicant and the Islamic Society’s attorney to address this issue back in January has clouded this whole process, and resulted in unfounded allegations of racism, discrimination, attempts to block the cemetery,” Brackett said.
The cemetery isn’t a done deal yet. The town’s board of health must approve the property’s suitability for burial use, as well as approval at town meeting.
