Billionaires Mohsin and Zuber Issa want to build the largest Muslim cemetery in the country… and criticism is rife

Billionaires Mohsin and Zuber Issa, who have become key figures in British business thanks to their EG Group empire and the purchase of Asda for 7 billion pounds, are relaunching their project to build the largest Muslim cemetery in the country. Coming from a modest background and now very active in real estate and in philanthropy via the Issa Foundation, they are also increasing their investments in their region of origin, Lancashire.

The project, called The Memorial Garden and located near Oswaldtwistle, would surpass London’s Gardens of Peace in size and include a funeral home and prayer rooms. Twice rejected by the authorities and briefly withdrawn in October, it arouses strong local opposition, with some fearing degradation of the landscape and risks to groundwater. The Issa brothers also rejected the proposal of activists wishing to transform the site into a nature reserve. Despite a reduced version of the plan – from 35,000 to 12,250 graves – the mobilization remains strong, with more than 10,000 residents opposing it according to a local elected official.

The project is part of a wider strategy to anchor the Issa brothers in Lancashire, where they are also funding the construction of a mosque and other community infrastructure. While awaiting a favorable decision, their foundation ensures that it will continue to maintain the land.