COLOMBO : The Supreme Council of Sufi Thareeqas,(SCOT),Sri Lanka representing the peace loving traditional Muslims of this country has sent a request to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to grant burial rights for Muslims to have their Covid infected bodies to be interred according to their Islamic rites.
Seyyed Naqeeb Mowlana President of the Supreme Council of Sufi Thareeqas, Sri Lanka said in his letter :” We wish to humbly submit this appeal with utmost responsibility, patriotism and promoting a strong inclusive and peace loving nation where all Sri Lankans coexist in harmony and unity through friendship, cooperation and greater understanding amongst communities.
Your great efforts and endeavour to build our nation’s economy and infrastructure and promoting understanding among all communities makes us proud. As a responsible organization, we wish to bring to your kind attention on issues faced by our community. Your initiatives and the approach taken in handling the Corona pandemic which has destroyed the economy and taken the lives of many all over the world, is greatly appreciated.
However, the effect of COVID 19 on the people of Sri Lanka has not been equal. The Muslim community lives not only in fear of being accused of the spread of disease but also denied their last rites. They also fear that even if they succumb to another illness, they would be denied last rites in accordance with their religious beliefs and cultural practices.
Our community feel sad and deeply hurt when we Muslims are denied the right of burial as prescribed in our religion. While the World Health Organization and almost every country in the world has accepted both burial and cremation, the policy of ”cremation only” as proposed by the health authorities in Sri Lanka and the reasoning and rationale for same is not convincing. In fact it is also relevant to state that the laws were amended and cremation made mandatory. It is worthy to note that for the thousands of deaths that have occurred around the world due to Covid, each and every country has allowed the burying of such cadavers in varying ground conditions. Yet, not a single case of groundwater contamination has been reported from any of the 214 Countries, spread around 5 continents which allowed the burial of Covid-19 effected bodies.
Islam prohibits cremation. The imposition of a practice that is totally against the religious beliefs of the community has caused considerable pain and suffering. We the Muslims of Sri Lanka have more than a thousand years of history in this motherland. We have made immense sacrifices, contributed towards development and joined hands in maintaining the sovereignty of our nation. It is our custom and religious belief that the body of a dead person should be handled with utmost care and respect till the body is buried under the surface of the earth. In fact we believe that visiting the graves of the deceased by their relatives or known people can connect them spiritually to another realm of life which enhances spiritual well being of those who visit. Thus, it immediately benefits the people around them and in general benefit the entire nation. This nature of receiving the heavenly blessings is a practice of our country leaders in the past. Notably Dewatagaha Mosque and Shrine is one such example of this divine presence. In a time where people are facing hardships economically and psychologically, this issue is effecting our community mentally.
We would also like to bring to your notice, our letter dated on 31st of March 2020 (Ref No. 2020/017), in which we requested your kind self to look into the above said matter immediately, as well as offered our voluntary support for handling of the Covid-19 effected cadavers, to be safely buried in accordance with the Health Authority guidelines. We yet are ready for such support, whenever or wherever needed. Our only request is to allow us bury our deceased, and we are ready to accept whatever the conditions or guidelines that the Health Authorities propose that is necessary for the safety of the People. We also kindly request to include renowned Virologists in the expert committee as well. We look forward that your Excellency, with responsibility and humbleness, consider these grave sentiments of a community and find an amicable solution, at least on humanitarian grounds.”