After all, the unbelievers from among the People of the Book are the “most vile of created beings” (Qur’an 98:6). Islamic Tolerance Alert from modern, moderate, secular Turkey: “Canadian’s grave relocated to corner in Bodrum cemetery,” from Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review, December 10 (thanks to C. Cantoni):
ISTANBUL – The remains of a retired Canadian diplomat have been relocated to another corner in the Bodrum cemetery, following a local family’s complaints. Wife of the late diplomat Hans Himmelbach is deeply unhappy about the incident and says her efforts to stop the relocation was futile[.]
The remains of retired Canadian diplomat Hans Himmelbach have been relocated to a remote corner in the Bodrum cemetery where he was buried, because a prominent local family was uncomfortable with his proximity to the graves of their loved ones.
“I cannot digest that my husband’s grave was moved to a corner because the neighborhood cemetery owners didn’t want him. This behavior doesn’t suit my country or the people of my country. This implementation is backward, I’ve lost my sleep,” said his wife Ä°lknur Kummul Himmelbach, a previous national sports woman and a Turkish record holder.
The 61 year-old Hans Himmelbach settled in Torba with his wife in 2004. He died Oct. 20. Once permission was granted, his casket was delivered to the Torba cemetery accompanied by Muslim and Christian rituals at his wife’s request. The participants from both religions thought the ceremony contributed to the atmosphere of tolerance.
Nevertheless, Ä°lknur Himmelbach was shocked one day when municipal workers said the DayıoÄŸlu family, one of Bodrum’s leading families, requested the relocation of Himmelbach’s remains because his grave was next to their relatives’.
Objecting to the relocation of her husband’s remains, Ä°lknur Himmelbach applied to the Bodrum Municipality five times for an intervention. Her efforts were futile, though, and her husband’s grave was moved 20 meters and now lacks a proper gravestone.
“If they told me this incident was going to happen 30 years ago, I wouldn’t have believed them. My husband doesn’t deserve this. He moved to Turkey to make me happy,” said Ä°lknur Himmelbach. […]
“They put Himmelback’s [sic] grave next to my mother Şükriye Saman and my cousin Burak DayıoÄŸlu. In the world, people having different beliefs are separated with walls or wires, even though they are in the same cemetery. This is for the respect of worship and belief,” said DayıoÄŸlu.
“We objected because we weren’t comfortable performing Muslim prayers right next to a Christian grave. We weren’t trying to hurt anybody,” said DayıoÄŸlu.
Of course you weren’t. As far as you’re concerned, you’re just acting in accord with the natural order of things.