SLMC demands Government reverses cremation only policy

• Issuing statement says policy not based on any scientific evidence or WHO guidelines 
• Govt. stance a denial of fundamental rights of Muslim community 
• Says repeated appeals and peaceful protests have failed to resolve issue 
• Believes Muslims have right to be buried in SL where they have lived as responsible citizens 

The Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) yesterday said it would demand that the Government reverses its unjustified cremation only policy, which is not based on scientific evidence nor World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines. 

“The SLMC will demand that the Government reverses its unjustified cremation only policy which is not based on epidemiological scientific evidence nor ethically sanctioned based on WHO and UNESCO guidelines governing protocol on COVID-19 disposal of dead bodies,” the party said in a statement.

“Moreover it is a denial of the fundamental right of the Muslims to equality and equal treatment guaranteed to them by the Constitution,” the statement added. 

The party pointed out that in spite of the repeated requests and representations by the SLMC and also the continuing peaceful demonstrations by the Muslim community, the Government had not resolved the issue relating to the rights of the Muslims to bury their COVID-19 victims and continues the forced cremation to the anguish of the Muslims the world over.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had made a request to Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih for assistance on the burial of Muslim pandemic victims which was positively responded to, and the SLMC Leader Rauff Hakeem, consequently, had thanked the Maldivian High Commissioner in Colombo Omar Abdul Razaak, in his email letter, for the gesture of goodwill and brotherhood on the issue, the statement said. 

Leader Hakeem had also tweeted his email letter to the Maldivian Foreign Minister Abdullah Shahid. On the other hand, Maldivian Speaker of Parliament and former President Mohamed Nasheed has separately tweeted expressing his Government’s desire to help in the matter. 

But Party Leader Hakeem has reiterated on the right of the Muslims to have their dead pandemic victims buried honourably in the soil of their own motherland where they lived as responsible citizens, generation after generation. 

He has expressed constraints over bodies of the pandemic victims being taken to a foreign land for burial which, obviously, is a denial of their rights as citizens of this country. He has clearly stated that he would stand his ground on this issue and would not compromise under any circumstances. 

Meanwhile, former President of the Maldives Moumoon Abdul Gayoom has tweeted: “Bringing bodies of foreign COVID-19 victims to be buried in Maldives is something that I cannot support,” expressing his displeasure on suggestions to take Muslim victims of COVID-19 for burial to the Maldives.

Strangely enough, while so much is happening on the issue, Minister and Cabinet Spokesman Kheliya Rambukwella has stated in a media conference on Tuesday, 15 December, that the matter had not come up for discussion at Cabinet meeting, implying how indifferent the Government is to the burning issue of the Muslims of this country.

Leader Hakeem has pointed out that the forced burial is not only a violation of the constitutionally guaranteed fundamental rights of the Muslims but a blatant injustice and out-and-out discrimination against the community.

UN Special Rapporteur on the Freedom of Religion and Belief Ahamed Shaheed has in an email letter to the SLMC Leader welcomed making public the letter he had emailed to Maldivian High Commissioner in Colombo Omar Abdul Razaak.