Sunday Times 2
A book on the forcible cremation of Muslim corona dead
View(s):Veteran journalist Latheef Farook has compiled a book – a collection of articles on the controversy over the Government’s policy of cremating Muslims who die of COVID-19 in defiance of World Health Organisation guidelines and the recommendations of local experts while dismissing religious sentiments of the country’s Muslim community.
According to local and international virologists, bodies of COVID-19 victims could either be buried or cremated, Mr. Farook points out and adds these experts insist there is no possibility of the virus spreading after the burial. Yet the Government obstinately continues to cremate the bodies of Muslims who die due to COVID-19 without explaining the reason behind its decision, he says.
Several countries and organisations, including the United Nations view the denial of the right to burial of those who die due to the coronavirus disease as a human rights violation and have urged the Sri Lankan Government to permit burials but to no avail.
Mr. Farook says the 224-page book seeks to highlight the injustice to the country’s Muslims. The book contains media statements, articles, opinion pieces and material from international organisations, scientists, medical researchers and other leading professionals on the subject.