Quebec City has sold a plot of land to the Centre culturel islamique de Québec, allowing the local mosque to finally establish a Muslim cemetery within city limits.

The land, located near the Belmont cemetery, was sold for $270,000. Once an access road has been built onto the property from Frank-Carrel St., Quebec City's Muslim community will be able to bury their dead in their own cemetery.

Quebec City's Muslims have been seeking their own local cemetery for the past 20 years.

Last month that quest took a controversial turn after a zoning change referendum in the nearby municipality of Saint-Apollinaire saw the community's attempt to establish a cemetery in that town refused by three votes.

Quebec City Mayor Régis Labeaume announced the land deal on Friday, explaining that city regulations already allowed for the creation of a cemetery on the property in question.

Local Muslim community representatives who attended Friday's announcement expressed their satisfaction over the sale, noting that not only was it possible to "live together," but also, they said, "to die in peace together."