Bathiudeen writes to President on amending COVID-19 disposal of bodies Gazette to allow burials

• Says community deeply distressed with continued cremation of Muslims affected by virus 
• Calls for appointment of expert committee of medical professionals to study issues
• Says 180 countries allow for burial of COVID-19 victims

Former Parliamentarian and All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC) Leader Rishad Bathiudeen has written to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, requesting him to amend the Gazette notification which stipulates cremation as the only form of disposal of bodies of COVID-19 victims and to incorporate burials as an approved form of disposal.

“Honouring the dead and disposing their bodies as per the beliefs and traditions is the most basic respect and honour that can be bestowed upon the deceased. The Gazette notification of 11 April, banning burials, is scientifically and ethically flawed. These forms of discriminatory action by the Government has no basis as the entire world is permitting burials,” Bathiudeen said, while requesting the President to amend the Gazette and guidelines incorporating burial as an approved form of disposal.

The former MP said that the Muslim Community is deeply distressed with the continued cremation of Muslims affected by COVID-19 and said more than 180 countries around the world and the World Health Organisation (WHO), as per their interim guidelines dated 24 March on ‹Infection Prevention and Control for the Safe Management of a Dead Body in the Context of COVID-19›, recommended burial and cremation of the COVID-19 victims.

Bathiudeen said that at a party leaders meeting held with Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, several MPs requested for the appointment of an expert committee of medical professionals to study the burial option from a scientific and ethical point of view and said they would be pleased to nominate any number of well-recognised medical professionals to this committee

“It is incumbent upon the living Muslims to dispose the body of a dead Muslim as per our religious rites. Among them, burial is the only option prescribed in Islam. It is forbidden for us to cremate our dead. We are expected to take utmost care and sensitivity in even bathing the dead,” he said. 

Bathiudeen also said that the body of a Muslim lady, aged 52, from Modara was cremated by the Government officials, claiming it to be a COVID-19 death but later evidence proved otherwise. “The Muslims are greatly traumatised and worried about the fate of our sick,” he said.

He also thanked the President’s strong leadership in coordinating responses to the challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and extended appreciation for the yeoman service rendered by frontline medical, nursing, armed services and government staff, who are risking their lives to save lives.