Edmonton, Alberta Muslim community holds funeral for ‘baby M’
News Agencies – September 23, 2012
The tiny pink casket at the front of an Edmonton mosque was the focus at the funeral of Baby M, the two-year-old girl who died this week after four months in a coma. About 150 Muslim mourners, including many small children, gathered at the Al-Rashid Mosque at 13070 113 St. for the toddler’s funeral prayer, which took place directly after the daily lunchtime prayer.
Among the mourners were the girl’s parents, each charged with two counts of aggravated assault, criminal negligence causing bodily harm and failing to provide the necessities of life to Baby M and her twin sister, who is now in foster care with an older brother. The parents, in custody at the Edmonton Remand Centre awaiting trial, were granted permission to attend the funeral on the condition they do not speak with one another.
The parents, both 34-year-old Algerian immigrants, were escorted out immediately after the service.