Sri Lanka cremates Muslim Covid-19 victims against religious wishes


Sri Lanka says it would cremate the bodies of 19 Muslim coronavirus victims, overriding the families’ objections against the contentious policy.

The island nation has been experiencing a surge in cases since October, with the number of infections increased more than eight-fold since then to over 29,300 and 142 dead.

Coronavirus victims’ bodies are claimed by families and then cremated — a practice forbidden under Islamic law — under the strict supervision of health authorities.

But families of 19 Muslims killed by the virus have refused to claim the bodies from a morgue in the capital Colombo, triggering the edict by Attorney-General Dappula de Livera.

The policy has been challenged by Muslims, with 12 petitions filed by the minority community and civil society groups in the Supreme Court.

But the top court rejected the petitions last week, without giving reasons why it made that decision.

The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation last month urged Colombo to permit Muslims to bury their family members “in line with their religious beliefs and obligations”.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Shatta Wale’s cocaine addiction is getting out of hand – Afia Schwarzenegger alleges

Image
Television personality Mona Gucci has released a damning audio which could taint the relationship between Shatta Wale and Afia Schwarzenegger. In the said audio, Afia Schwarzenegger is heard saying that Shatta Wale’s drug addiction is overboard. “I was looking at Shatta Wale’s market value but I didn’t know his addiction to cocaine is now overboard,” Afia Schwarzenegger is heard saying. Adding that “Shatta Wale introduced Efia Odo to his Sugar Mummy who owns the South African Wines Shop”. There is a brewing confusion between Mona Gucci and Afia Schwarznegger where their dreaded secrets are been released on social media.
Read more

Akufo-Addo sworn in as Ghana’s President for second term.

Image
Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has been sworn into office for a second four-year term as President of the Republic of Ghana. The Chief Justice, Kwasi Anin Yeboah conducted the swearing-in, taking him through the required oaths . Taking the presidential oath of office and oath of allegiance, Nana Akufo Addo said: “I will be faithful and true to the Republic of Ghana. I will at all times preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of Ghana.” Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has also been sworn in as Vice President of Ghana for a second term.
Read more

Director of research at the Presidency, Victor Newman dead

Image
A founding member of New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the current Director of Research at the Presidency, Victor Newman, has died after a short illness. A source close to the family said he died today (10 December) at the Legon Hospital in Accra after a short illness. Victor Newman was appointed as the director of research at the Presidency in 2017. Prior to his appointment, he worked at the Economic Research and Planning Services of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Western Castings Limited, and the Ghana Exim Economic Consultants. From 2008 till 2016, he served as the Director of Research for the electioneering campaigns of President Akufo-Addo. He left behind a wife and four children. Source: Asaase Fm
Read more