Local Mosque to Hold Funeral for Deadly Bronx Fire Victims
Musa Kabba, the imam at the Masjid-Ur-Rahmah mosque, told NY1 that the funeral might be held as early as Friday or Saturday.
Many of the victims of the fire attended Kabba’s mosque, which has remained open through the tragedy.
Residents of the building and neighbors have congregated at the mosque since Sunday to pray, grieve — and work to try to figure out where missing family members may be.
The plan for the funeral comes as Gambian families, some of whom have yet to receive the remains of their deceased loved ones, are faced with tough decisions about whether to bury their relatives in the US or The Gambia.
Haji Dukuray, 61, who lost five relatives in the fire, including three children, said he and kin are “having a family meeting” to figure out burial plans.
“We’ll determine whether they’ll be buried in the Bronx or be taken back to The Gambia,” he told The Post on Tuesday.
Dukuray and his relatives have not yet received the bodies of their kin, he said.
Yusupha Jawara, 46, lost his brother, Hagi Jawara, 47, and sister-in-law, Isatou Jabbie, 31, in the fire. The couple leaves behind four children, who are currently in The Gambia visiting family.
Jawara said his brother and sister-in-law will be buried in The Gambia.
Local and state governments have promised to help families with funeral costs, and Gambian community orgs are raising hundreds of thousands to support the victims and make sure they got a proper burial.
Mayor Eric Adams emphasized the city wants to work with the local Muslim community to respect their burial customs.
Seventeen people, including eight children, died in the fire, which left more than 60 others injured. It was the deadliest fire in New York City in more than 30 years.
Source: New York Post
