THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, BISM RABBIK FOUNDATION INC.
Petition: End the growing harassment and disrespectful behavior during Muslim community funerals. This petition is bringing a growing set of incidents at the Muslim Cemetery whereby the grieving families
and funeral attendees are insensitively mistreated. The following incident is one such example of mistreatment of the family of the deceased.

On April 27th, 2022, at 4:30 PM over 200 members of the Muslim Community visited what is commonly referred to as Muslim Cemetery of South Florida (“Muslim Cemetery”) managed by BISM RABBIK FOUNDATION INC., also known as, “Muslim Cemetery”, located at 17551 NW 137th Ave, Hialeah, FL 33018 to attend the funeral of a well-known community member & activist.

As the funeral prayer was about to commence, Mr. Ghulam Dandia (“Mr. Dandia”), Director of the Muslim Cemetery, approached one of the community members and demanded that he leave the premises. Several community members who were present requested Mr. Dandia not to bring contentious issues at the time of funerals. In addition, Ms. Sadia Dandia
(daughter of Mr. Ghulam Dandia) kept threatening that she would call her lawyer or the police.

Around 4:50 PM, as the body was brought for burial, Ms. Sadia Dandia blocked the excavated spot where the body was to be laid to rest while Mr. Dandia kept the keys of the tractor/backhoe used for backfilling, demanding that until the said community member leaves the premises, they will not allow the burial to take place. It was very appalling for everyone present at the site to see the whole community being held hostage with the deceased family put on spot to either have this community member leave the site or delay the burial. The deceased family was completely unaware of the
conflict, and it was painful for them to settle a matter they were not party to (or had no knowledge of) at such a critical time of burying their loved one. This ordeal was extremely upsetting and shocking to the entire community. This community member, obliging to the request of several community members left the property around 5PM to save the deceased family from further pain and anguish.

A similar incident took place last year when Mr. Dandia forced this member to leave the funeral of another family friend on April 9th, 2021 There is growing frustration in the community of the terrible experiences and helplessness that Mr. Dandia is creating at the sensitive time of community funerals. The Muslim Cemetery is a 501c(3) organization that was built on community’s donation. The Board must ensure that community is not put in a distress when they come for funerals and any dispute, they have with anyone should be settled in a professional manner either through mediation or under extreme necessity through legal means at a time other than funerals in a setting conducive for such discussions This is not the first time that the community experiences such horrible treatment past. It is the right of every Muslim to be able to attend the funeral prayer of their Muslim brother or sister.

Fla. Stat. § 704.08 of the Florida Statutes states:
“The relatives and descendants of any person buried in a cemetery shall have an easement for ingress and egress for the purpose of visiting the cemetery at reasonable times and in a reasonable manner”

Petition : We the undersigned on behalf of the South Florida Community residing in Broward, Dade and Palm Beach County request the Board of Bism Rabbik Foundation to immediately take corrective actions install a professional staff trained in funerals processing and sensitivities. Ensure that this is a community owned project every community member has the right to come and perform their services Islamically. 

Any disputes/conflict with their vendors and service providers be addressed in a professional setting either through mediation/independent arbitrator or (under extreme necessity) through legal means according to the laws of the state and not settle the disagreements at the time of funerals by disrupting the funeral and holding the whole community hostage causing further grief and pain to the deceased family.