THE ISLAMIC CEMETERY ALTACH
Project History Vorarlberg: Land of Many
Responsible for the contents: okay.zusammen leben/advice center for immigration and integration (Verein Aktion Mitarbeit) www.okay-line.at Text: Eva Grabherr In the past 150 years, Vorarl draw on our experience. And we are Translation: syn.tactic translations berg has become a new home for not the only ones to live through and Dornbirn, April 2013 many and varied groups of immi shape such transformations. We share Images and layout: atelier stecher Print: BUCHER Hohenems grants: among them have been this history with many other European Italian-speaking and German-speak- regions and countries. ing migrants from Trentino and A more recent event in this South Tyrol as well as migrants from history, which was shaped by people with support from Austrian states where the Alemannic too, is the establishment of the first dialect is not spoken. Others came to Islamic cemetery in Vorarlberg, in Vorarlberg as “Gastarbeiter” (migrant Altach in June 2012. It is open to workers). Arriving from Serbia, members of all the Islamic communi Bosnia, Croatia or Turkey, they spoke ties living in any of Vorarlberg’s rural This brochure was published to mark the various languages and had different and urban districts. The opening was exhibition “Innenansicht Südost – Erkundungen islamischer Glaubensräume” (A South-East Interior religious beliefs. The list is by no preceded by a process lasting several View: Exploring Islamic Sites of Belief), which means exhaustive. It is the history of years and involved many years of ran from 9 April to 29 June 2013 at the Vorarlberg newcomers finding their way, settling people working together towards a Architecture Institute (VAI). www.v-a-i.at down and becoming part of estab common goal that transcended lished structures and, in a parallel religious and institutional bounda process, it is the history of change. ries. This brochure tells about this The growing diversity of Vorarlberg cooperation – an example that it’s – both as a state and a society – is possible. therefore not a new story. We can 1_Why does Vorarlberg need a burial site for Muslims? Because the people of the Muslim population group are getting older and the number of those who wish to be buried in Vorarlberg according to the rules of their religion is growing.
In 2011, approximately 38,000 retire; the vast majority, however, Muslims were living in Vorarlberg. do not. Even if they do return to their Making up 10% of the total residential country of origin, these elderly population, they constituted the people do not stay because their second largest religious group after children and grandchildren have often the Catholics. Muslims make up 6% of acquired Austrian citizenship and the Austrian population. They came bought houses and flats here. These The Cemetery as immigrants, starting in the 1960s: developments form the backdrop to Turkish and Bosnian migrant workers, the establishment of the first Islamic refugees of the Yugoslav wars in the burial site in Vorarlberg. The Islamic Cemetery Altach is The cemetery falls under the jurisdiction of: 1990s and from Chechnya in recent open to members of all Islamic com- the municipality of Altach years or people with different migra munities living in any of Vorarlberg’s Funding: tion backgrounds from countries in rural and urban districts who wish to Vorarlberg municipalities, State of Vorarlberg, donations from the Islamic Communities of be buried according to Islamic rites. North Africa and Southeast Asia. Vorarlberg, burial and grave fees and charges Migrants mostly constitute a The cemetery comprises burial areas younger segment of the population for approximately 700 graves, a facility Architect: DI Bernardo Bader, Dornbirn than the resident population. As they for ritual washing, a covered area for www.bernardobader.com settle down more permanently in taking leave of the deceased and a their host country, their age structure, small prayer room. The burial areas Local construction supervisor: Thomas Marte (master builder), Dornbirn however, approaches that of long- have been laid out so that the deceased term residents. First-generation can be buried according to the ritually “Kunst am Bau” (“Art within architecture”) / installation prayer room: migrant workers in Vorarlberg are correct alignment of their bodies with Azra Akšamija, www.mit.edu/~azra/ approaching retirement age or have Mecca. In the prayer room, the art in already retired. The number of people stallation “Schindel-Mihrab” (“Shingle The cemetery is operated and maintained by: Mihrab”) shows the direction of the municipality of Altach over sixty with a migration back www.altach.at/buergerservice/bestattung/ ground is growing. Some return to prayer towards Mecca. The carpet was islamischer-friedhof-altach their country of origin when they hand-woven by women in Sarajevo.
Discussion with representatives of Vorarlberg’s Islamic communities at the completed cemetery, April 2012. Photo: N. Walter. 2_Where did Muslims in Vorarlberg used to be buried? At individual municipal cemeteries – most of the deceased were, however, repatriated. Ritually correct Islamic burials have not been possible in Vorarlberg until now.
In an Islamic burial, it is religiously important for the grave Survey of the building site in 2007: imams are to be facing Mecca and for the dead to rest in a community of helping to determine the correct position Muslims. This rule of burying people of the same religious denomi of the burial areas in nations together on one site is also shared by other faiths. From the direction of Mecca. Private photo. the end of the nineteenth century, this resulted in the establish ment of municipal cemeteries in multireligious European towns and cities with demarcated burial areas for Catholics, Protestants, Jews etc. In the past few years, this model has been used in individ ual Austrian cities (Vienna, Linz, Innsbruck, Graz etc.) to establish Islamic burial sites at or through the extension of existing ceme teries. The Islamic Religion in Vorarlberg The first independent Islamic cemetery was opened in Vienna in 2008. One reason was to ease the situation of the Islamic The Islamic religion in Vorarlberg is organized around commu- burial grounds at Vienna’s Central Cemetery nity associations formed according to countries of origin (Turkey, Bos- in view of the increasing number of funerals. nia, Chechnya etc.) and religious denominations (Sunni, Alevi). These The Viennese burial site is denominational communities maintain the mosques and assembly rooms and attend to and operated by the Islamic Community in many of the believers’ religious needs. In Austria, the relationship be Austria (IGGiÖ). In contrast, the Altach ceme tween the state and the Islamic religion is regulated in such a way that tery is a municipal cemetery – operated by Islam is one of the 14 religious denominations (churches) recognized by Altach on behalf of the other Vorarlberg the state, and Islamic Alevism is one of the 11 registered religious com - municipalities – that is open to Muslims from munities. The Islamic Community in Austria (IGGiÖ) is recognized by the all of the state’s municipalities. state as the official representative of Islam in Austria. Its representative in Vorarlberg is the Islamic Community Bregenz. The official representa - tive of the Islamic Alevi is the Alevi Religious Community of Austria (IAGÖ). Working together with these organizations, the state regulates miscellaneous matters, such as religious education, the denominational school system, military pastoral care etc.
Further information on Islam in Vorarlberg: www.okay-line.at/Modul Wissen.
Outer wall with star ornaments, April 2012 (The octagonal star is an old and frequently used ornament of Islamic art and architec- ture.). Photo: N. Walter.
Funeral and burial site requirements according to the Islamic understanding of faith
Facing Mecca Only burials in the ground Eternal rest Cemeteries Graves must face Mecca so that the de- Only burials in the ground are permit- As a matter of principle, a grave should Traditionally, Islamic cemeteries should ceased are ready for prayer on the Day ted so that the whole person may be never be disturbed. Normally, the burial be situated outside of settlements of Resurrection and are united together, resurrected. People for whom a burial plot cannot be vacated because the de- (Islamic and Jewish burial practices are even in death, with other Muslims who in the ground is not possible because – ceased remains here to await resurrec- similar in this point as well as in the prostrate themselves in prayer towards at their time of death – their bodies tion on the Day of Judgement. This is need for burials in the ground and for Mecca. were destroyed through accidents or the reason why cemeteries should not burial plots not to be vacated.) In large wars are considered to be witnesses of be relocated. Due to the lack of ceme cities, such as Istanbul or Ankara, there No mixed-faith burial plots the Faith, for whom there is a dispensa- tery sites, particularly in urban centres, are, however, cemeteries surrounded by Every Muslim is supposed to live and tion. there is, however, Islamic legal opinion residential areas as a result of urban also be buried within the umma (the – even in Islamic countries like Turkey expansion. Islamic religious community). In princi – which, in emergency cases, permits Source: Elisabeth Dörler, Eine Begräbnisstätte für ple, mixed-faith burials or burials, for a further Muslim burial in an Islamic Muslime und Musliminnen in Vorarlberg, 2004. example, in a Christian cemetery are grave. This only applies if the remains therefore a violation of this command- of the person previously buried there ment. Besides their own cemeteries, are no longer expected to be found and burial areas for Muslims in communal if the person to be buried is also a Mus- cemeteries are also suitable places of lim. The time before a grave may be burial. re-used thereby depends on climatic and geographical conditions. 3_Why did the debate about burial options for Muslims in Vorarlberg result in an independent cemetery? Because Muslims live in almost all of Vorarlberg’s municipalities, and a solution was needed that was beneficial to everyone.
According to the last census in leben/advice center for immigration and 2001, Muslims live in 93 of the 96 munici integration, a specific solution was found palities. Legally, burial is a communal and put into place: a cemetery exclusively matter. Every municipality has to offer its for Muslims that is municipally operated inhabitants a burial option. It was assumed and, for the purpose of cooperation that, as the death rate in the Muslim between municipalities, open for de population group grew, the need for ceased Muslims from all Vorarlberg ritually correct burial options in Vorarl municipalities and of all religious denom berg would also increase and that this inations of Islam. In 2007, the municipali need would have to be met by many ty of Altach declared that it would make a Aerial view of the building site in 2011. municipalities. The Austrian Law on Islam special contribution towards the realiza of 1912 protects the rights of the Muslim tion of this project by accepting the local population to burials according to Islamic government trusteeship of the project. rites and affords the institutions and Even after the opening of the Islamic practices of Islam the same protection as cemetery in Altach it will still be possible other recognized religious communities. for Muslims in Vorarlberg to be buried in Critical voices in the debate Vorarlberg did not have a Muslim burial their municipality of residence. There will ground in a communal cemetery that not, however, be any facilities for burials There was little public criticism of the cemetery project during the could provisionally serve as a site for according to Islamic rituals. years of planning and construction. If there was any criticism, it was in burials according to Islamic rituals. A new reaction to reports in the media or at public information meetings and solution had to be found that crossed mostly focused on the following points: municipal boundaries. The topic of burial • The construction of a cemetery for Muslims: one side interpreted grounds for Muslims in existing ceme this as an attempt by Muslims to segregate themselves from teries situated in a select number of Christians; the other side interpreted this as attempts by the Chris municipalities offering burials to Muslims tian majority society to segregate Muslims. from other municipalities was also • The remoteness of the burial grounds: some people argued that discussed. Finally, after many years of this was characteristic of the social marginalization of Muslims and participatory discussions involving the would reinforce this. Vorarlberg Association of Municipalities, • Additional space requirements due to the religious requirements the State Government, the Islamic com for burials in the ground. munities and such institutions as the Catholic Church and okay.zusammen Building application for the “construction of an Islamic cemetery on Vorarlberg soil” submitted to the Vorarlberg State Government by the initiative group “Islamic Cemetery” and the Islamic Religious Community Bregenz of the Islamic Community in Austria (IGGiÖ), 2004.
Building application for the “construction of an Islamic cemetery on Vorarlberg soil” submitted to the Vorarlberg State Government by the initiative group “Islamic Cemetery” and the Islamic Religious Community Bregenz of the Islamic Community in Austria (IGGiÖ), 2004.
Islamic Faith Community in Austria 2. The fundamental right to be buried in this country – according to rituals Islamic Religious Community Bregenz (Vorarlberg and Tyrol) prescribed by Islam for people of the Islamic faith – after having lived and and the worked here for 40 years. Initiative group “Islamic Cemetery”
3. As a final step of integration: the option of being buried here. Amt der Vorarlberger Landesregierung z.H. Herrn Dr. Herbert SAUSGRUBER Muslims – like representatives of other religions too – have specific funeral rites for Landeshauptmann the deceased. In no other area than that of religion are religious duties, including Landhaus funeral rites, taken seriously and cultivated by the majority of people. These A-6901 Bregenz customs are treated sacramentally, so to speak. Bregenz, 23 August 2004
The Islamic Faith Community in Austria (IGGiÖ) and its regional Islamic Religious Community Bregenz (Vorarlberg and Tyrol), IRG, as an officially recognized religious Application: Islamic Cemetery in Vorarlberg community and official representative of Muslims in the Republic of Austria, request that an Islamic cemetery be built – in accordance with the specific requirements for Dear Dr. Sausgruber graves prescribed by Islamic law – for the holding of Islamic funerals on such a site.
The “Islamic Cemetery in Vorarlberg” project has been a concern of Muslims Accordingly, we, i.e. the IGGiÖ, IRG Bregenz (Vorarlberg and Tyrol) together with for decades. It has become even more relevant due to the fact that 29,334 Muslims the initiative group that comprises the Austrian-Turkish Islamic Union (ATIB), the are living in Vorarlberg (2001 census). This is a considerable number (8.36 percent) Austrian Islamic Federation (AIF), Islamic Cultural Centres (VIKZ) and the Alevi given the size of Vorarlberg. Religious and Cultural Community, submit our joint application for the construc- tion of at least one Islamic cemetery on Vorarlberg soil. Vorarlberg has been an immigration state for over 100 years. Muslims have also been living here for more than 40 years. Many of them decided to adopt We kindly request that you accept our application. We would be happy to provide Vorarlberg as their second home. During the past ten years, naturalization figures you with more details and to inform you about further steps at your convenience. have been continuously increasing. Muslims have bought flats, built houses and established businesses.
Sincerely We think that there are many arguments that can be made in favour of an Islamic cemetery in Vorarlberg, of which we would like to cite two:
IGGiÖ, IRG Bregenz Initiative group 1. Section 6 of the Law on Islam of 1912: (Vorarlberg and Tyrol) “Islamic Cemetery” “The religious community of the adherents of Islam shall, both as regards
the community as such and religious worship and religious servants, enjoy Abdi TA¸SDÖGEN˘ Attila DINCER the same legal protection as is granted to other legally recognised religious Head of IRG Bregenz Spokesman of the initiative group communities. The doctrines of Islam, its institutions and customs shall enjoy Member of the Oberste Rat of the IGGiÖ the same protection too, unless they are in contradiction to state law.”
“Institutions” refers to hospitals and schools as well as cemeteries.
August 2004 cemetery. Imams of Islamic communities 4_How did the Islamic Cemetery The Islamic Religious Community Bregenz in Vorarlberg provided support in ques Altach come about? of the Islamic Community in Austria (IGGiÖ) tions of ritual. Azra Akšamija, a Bosnian- The opening was preceded by a process and the initiative group “Islamic Ceme born Austrian architect and artist, was tery” put forward a motion to the Vorarl commissioned with the design of the small lasting several years, in which many people berg State Government for the construc prayer room. worked out and implemented a solution tion of a cemetery. Since cemeteries fall that transcended religious and institutional under the jurisdiction of local authorities, 2008 to 2010 the Vorarlberg Association of Municipali Detailed planning, application for the boundaries. ties took charge of this matter. building permit and preparation of the construction site: a cemetery was to be November 2004 to October 2005 built for approximately 700 graves, in The Vorarlberg Association of Municipali cluding a washroom for ritual washing, ties initiated a study group to formulate a a covered area for taking leave of the “position paper recommending a burial deceased and a small prayer room. site for Muslim men and women in Vorarl berg.” 2010 The municipality of Altach assumed official 2006 trusteeship for the cemetery, where Mus Decision process of the municipalities con lim citizens from all of Vorarlberg’s munic cerning the location of a first burial site: ipalities and of all Islamic denominations the municipality of Altach proposed the can be buried. Since 2012, SILA funeral Schotterried 1 plot of land along the L 190 home in Hohenems – which has organized road between Hohenems and Götzis as an the repatriation of deceased Muslims for option for the construction of a single site. years – has been in charge of administer On 28 November 2006, Altach council ing the cemetery. unanimously decided to sell this plot to the Vorarlberg Association of Municipali 2011 ties for the construction of an Islamic Start of construction work. Photo: model of the cemetery submitted by Bernardo Bader architectural office for the architectural competition, 2007. cemetery. In June 2008, the Association of Municipalities acquired the 8,500 m² plot. 2 June 2012 Opening of the cemetery. September 2007 Autumn 2003 Dörler, expert in Islamic affairs in Vorarl Following an architectural competition by Islamic communities and immigrant asso berg and official representative for Islamic invitation, the Bernardo Bader architectur ciations in Vorarlberg joined forces to dis Affairs of the Catholic Church of Vorarl al office in Dornbirn was commissioned cuss the establishment of burial facilities berg, with the study “A Burial Site for Mus with the planning of the site. In the fol for Muslims and founded the initiative lims in Vorarlberg.” The study was meant lowing years, the architectural office was group “Islamic Cemetery” (Initiativgruppe to provide the basis for a decision-making supported in the planning and implemen Islamischer Friedhof). okay.zusammen process and was published in autumn tation phases by a working group of citi leben, the advice center for immigration 2004. zens with expert knowledge (working and integration, commissioned Elisabeth group “Construction” / “Arbeitsgruppe Bau”) who dealt with specific questions relating to the construction of an Islamic
Left: inspection of the sample wall (concrete and star ornamentation), March 2011. Photo: N. Walter.
Right: one of the numerous meetings of the architect with the municipality’s representatives in charge of construction and with the members of the working group “Construction,” December 2010. Private photo.
Persons who participated in the decision-making and construction process
Members of the initiative group • Bosnian Islamic Community, Members of the study group, who • Eva Grabherr (okay.zusammen “Islamic Cemetery,” who in 2004 represented by Hüseyin Begi ´c in 2004/2005 – on behalf of the leben/advice center for immi – together with the Islamic Relig • Representatives of the Arab Vorarlberg Association of Munici- gration and integration) ious Community Bregenz of the and North African community palities – formulated the “position Islamic Community in Austria • Institute for Intercultural Affairs paper recommending a burial site (IGGiÖ) – proposed a motion (INKA), represented by Attila for Muslim men and women in Members of the working group concerning the construction of a Dincer (spokesman of the Vorarlberg”: “Construction,” who supported the burial site for Muslims: initiative group) • Othmar Müller (Vorarlberg architects during the planning, • Austrian-Turkish Islamic Union • Atatürk Thought Association Association of Municipalities) implementation and construction (ATIB), represented by Mustafa (ADD), represented by Ahmet • Hugo Rogginer phases: Paçalı Ínan (market town of Hard) • Attila Dincer • Austrian Islamic Federation (AIF), • Wolfgang Bösch • Eva Grabherr represented by Abdi Tas¸dö ˘gen (market town of Lustenau) • Baki Kaya • Association of Islamic Cultural • Edgar Lecher (City of Dornbirn) • Jusuf Mesi ´c Centres (VIKZ), represented • Johannes Schneeberger • Nuri Sarıgül by Ekrem Tarım (City of Feldkirch) • Alevi Religious and Cultural • Marianne Kofler Community, represented (State of Vorarlberg) Local support through the munici- by Abuzer S¸as¸kın • Abdi Tas¸dö ˘gen (Islamic pality of Altach: Community in Austria, IGGiÖ) • Gottfried Brändle, mayor • Attila Dincer (initiative group • Klaus Ender, cemetery adminis- “Islamic Cemetery”) tration • Elisabeth Dörler • Rudolf Fend, building authorities (Catholic Church of Vorarlberg)
5_The architecture of the burial site and shade in the assembly area, where wooden shingle was and still is a popular the bereaved take their leave of the building material. As they move about was planned by the Vorarlberg architecture deceased. the room, the pattern of the shingle wall firm Bernardo Bader. The prayer room was The aim of the design was to appears animated. In the position of designed by the Bosnian-born Austrian architect create open and clearly laid out grounds prayer towards Mecca, the image be and artist Azra Akšamija. and buildings that are pragmatically comes still; this supports the focus on integrated into the land form using prayer. In this position, the inscriptions minimal, but consciously chosen symbo “Allah” and “Muhammad” in Kufic, one of lism. the oldest Arabic scripts, can be discerned Azra Akšamija created the “Schin at eye level. The different layers of the del-Mihrab” (“Shingle Mihrab”) for the stainless steel mesh curtains carrying the kiblah wall in the prayer room. The kiblah shingles are mounted in such a manner wall marks the direction of prayers that they abstractly reference the niche towards the Ka´bah in Mecca. In mosques, form as well as specific decorative it is usually designed as a niche in the elements of the mihrab in Ottoman wall indicating the direction of Mecca mosques called muqarnas. The carpet (Arabic: mihrab). The title of the art was hand-woven in a weaving mill in installation refers to this. The “Schindel- Sarajevo, Bosnia. The changing and Mihrab” creates a space that unites different shades of colour signify the cultures through references to the rows of prayers (Arabic: saff). different cultural backgrounds of the people praying. People entering the room first see the kiblah – a wall of wooden shingles. This is a reference to the local architectur al traditions of Vorarlberg, in which the
Left: one of the five “finger-shaped” burial A central motif for the conceptual The required rooms (including a areas facing towards design of the cemetery was the interfaith ritual washroom, a covered area for the south-east and Mecca; the photo was taken on idea of the “first garden.” The creation of taking leave of the deceased, a small the day of the opening (2 June 2012). a garden is the clear demarcation of a prayer room) were also designed using Photo: N. Walter. piece of land from the surrounding the wall motif. They flank the head of the Right: the prayer room wilderness. In Altach, a delicate network burial areas in the form of a sixth “fin with the “Schindel of walls of varying heights frames the ger,” which encloses the south side of the Mihrab”; the photograph was taken on the day of burial areas and the buildings. The facility. The cemetery is entered from the opening (2 June 2012). Photo: N. Walter. “finger-shaped” burial areas embed the here. The large opening in the sidewall site in the pastoral landscape. segment at the head of the cemetery, whose ornamentation repeats the motif of the octagonal Islamic star using wood lathing, allows for the interplay of light Right: room for the ritual washing of the deceased; the photograph was taken on the day of the opening (2 June 2012). Photo: N. Walter. Mourning and burial rituals in Islam
Isn’t an Islamic funeral very loud Is the deceased buried in a coffin? and emotional? The deceased are not buried in coffins in Loud lamentation after a death is taboo in the Islamic world, where the climate and Islam. Muslims, as do Christians, believe in soil conditions are often quite different paradise. It would be unseemly to commu- than those in Europe. There are Muslim nicate despair through such commotion legal scholars who argue that the use of as if it were all over. On the contrary, be coffins in Europe is permissible because of lievers are meant to behave quietly and the damp soil conditions. That is why Mus- reservedly as they pay their final respects lims in Austria are buried in coffins and in to the deceased and comfort the bereaved. accordance with Austrian burial regula There is no music at an Islamic funeral. tions. The direction of the graves is impor- Sometimes, the deceased is accompanied tant. The deceased should be lying on their by praises to God spoken rhythmically by right side with their face turned towards the congregation. The prayer for the dead Mecca. This is much easier to achieve and is recited at the cemetery. It is very short do in a more acceptable manner at a Mus- and simple. The prayer is said standing and lim cemetery or burial ground. in orderly rows. There is no call to prayers before the prayer for the dead. What about visiting graves? Even the smallest sign of a cult of the dead What actually happens at the is foreign to Islam. That means that funer washing of the body? als are very simple. Graves are kept plain. In Islam, cleanliness is part of belief. That It is not common to frequently visit the is why, out of respect for the deceased, cemetery. The reason is that Muslims are a thorough and reverent ritual cleansing meant to trust in the well-being of the of the body should preferably take place deceased in the afterlife, to let go and not immediately after the onset of death and to make a “pilgrimage” to the grave. The before the body is wrapped in shrouds. bereaved primarily remember the dead in The washing of the body may only be car- silent prayer or by reciting the Koran and ried out by specially trained personnel in care for them by making donations to the a room solely used for this purpose. The needy. Discussion with representatives of the Islamic communities in congregation of mourners is not present. Vorarlberg on the completed cemetery grounds, April 2012 (in the Everything is kept perfectly clean. In Islam, Source: information for residents living in the neigh foreground, the musalla ta¸si , on which the deceased is laid out the burial should take place as quickly as bourhood of the Islamic cemetery in Vienna published for the mourners to pay their last respects). Photo: N. Walter. possible. in 2005 by the Islamic Community in Austria (IGGiÖ) on the occasion of the establishment of the Islamic cemetery in Vienna. THE ISLAMIC CEMETERY ALTACH
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