Muslim cemetery in Ceuta: 'People call daily asking if I buried their children'

Said Mohammed, manager of Ceuta's only Muslim cemetery, is facing an overwhelming task as he buries migrants who perished trying to reach Spain. For three generations, his family has lived in Ceuta, descendants of immigrants from Morocco's Rif Mountains. When tens of thousands of migrants crossed the border fences and swam to Spain four weeks ago, Mohammed immediately understood the implications for his work.

The Sidi Mbarek cemetery, with its white gravestones nestled among palm trees, has seen a surge in burials. Mohammed spoke to ZEIT by phone shortly before conducting the funeral for the last eleven deceased individuals. He revealed that he had recently buried 89 people, a number far exceeding any previous period.

Many of the individuals laid to rest at the cemetery remain nameless, their identities lost during the perilous journey across the Mediterranean or over land borders. The sheer volume of deaths has placed an immense burden on Mohammed and the cemetery's resources.

Ceuta, a Spanish enclave on the Mediterranean coast, is a common entry point for migrants attempting to reach Europe from North Africa. The recent influx of thousands of migrants highlights the ongoing humanitarian crisis and the dangerous routes people undertake in search of safety and opportunity.

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People call daily asking if I buried their children.