Burial or cremation – the polemic has begun By Dr M. HARIS DEEN

The front page headline item in The Island (12.11.2020), titled “Resumption of burials a high risk the country cannot afford to take” – (copy of the article is attached below of this post), ascribed to Member of Parliament Muzammil, shows his ignorance; he has caused a reprehensible affront on the Muslim community.

Muzammil’ss reasoning is unacceptable, when he says “that the country was struggling to cope with the corona pandemic and no one should be allowed to play politics at a time of national health emergency”.

Yes, not only our country, but many advanced nations, like the United Kingdom, the US,. Canada and European nations, and closer to home, India and Singapore, are also facing the spread of the pandemic. This has certainly not been attributed to theburial of victims rather it has resulted from failure of the people to adhere to preventive guidelines of personal hygiene and physical distancing. All other countries, including our closest neighbour India, a predominantly Hindu country, permit burial of not only Muslims who die of COVID-19 but all others. This is what the Sri Lankan Muslims are asking for. Refusal of this right amounts to a violation of accepted human rights norms but also denial of justice guaranteed by Article 10 of the Sri Lankan Constitution which affirms that – “Every person is entitled to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, including the freedom to adopt a religion or belief of his choice”.

There is no evidence from countries which had large numbers of COVID deaths, who were buried, that burials have caused ground water contamination or led to the spread of the virus.

Muzammil has emphasised that whatever the religious dictates and sentiments, the Sri Lankan Muslim community should adhere to specific instructions issued by the Government as regards the cremation of corona victims. Of course, it is true that Muslims are the only ones taking up the case on behalf of all, irrespective of faith, who desire burial as a dignified last rites. The large number of tombstones in every graveyard bears testimony to the fact that a majority number of people prefer burial to cremation.

 Muzammil continues to play politics when he says he also believes Muslims have to be buried and support that position and adds ‘but the extraordinary situation on the ground makes my personal stand, on this matter, irrelevant’.  What hypocrisy? He argues that ‘Muslim burials were done in accordance with Arabian customs which the Sri Lankan community would have to give up or face the consequences’. However, what he has failed to point out was that Muslims are not requesting that they be allowed to perform the rites following a death under normal circumstances. According to the edicts issued by Muslim scholars following deaths in wars and during pandemics the need for washing the body and shrouding it with white cloth can be dispensed with, and the body can be shrouded in sealed plastic and put in a sealed coffin approved by the government. All that is necessary is to sanctify the deceased with the prayer before burial.

Coming to the Muslims, they are themselves not helping their cause. A leaderless community, hounded by self-centred politicians, and deeply divided, has failed to present its case effectively. I certainly hope that saner counsel will prevail, and the process of amending the cremation bill, to permit burial, will succeed. In this respect, Muzammil has rightly said, “The Muslim community should speak with one voice on this matter.” Whether these sentiments were genuine or otherwise, I certainly support him on this point.

In many civilizations, traditions and religions— both ancient and modern —death is a mere transitional phase between one stage of life and another. Burying the dead is one way to ensure that the dead are accorded dignity and respect, and that the feelings of their living loved ones are considered. Throughout history, religions, traditions and cultural practices have influenced the ways in which the dead are managed, both in times of peace and conflict. Today, they continue to do so.

As for Muzammil’s comment on contaminations, I repeat what I stated from authoritative sources in my earlier article to allay fears of contamination stated by Muzammil:

Microbial and chemical contamination can also occur in cemeteries as a result of unmanaged, untreated and incorrectly sited sanitation services, solid waste, and wastewater which allows for the flow of microorganisms and contaminants into cemeteries.

In general, bodies that are treated and buried in correctly sited and constructed cemeteries do not pose a threat to public health and are not a source of pollution. The WHO guidelines clearly stipulate that to date there has been no evidence to suggest that individuals have become infected from exposure to the bodies of persons who have died from COVID-19.

If conducted according to the usual recommended health and safety practices, the burial of a person who has died of C-19 should poses no risk to the environment or the people.

However, when sited properly and according to sound scientific judgment, cemeteries should protect surface water and groundwater from contamination, regardless of the cause of death.

To date there have been no reported cases of Coronavirus that causes COVID-19) being detected in drinking water, in either private boreholes or public drinking water systems coming from cemeteries. This can be related to the travel time that SARS-CoV-2 will need in order to remain infective.

So far, SARS-CoV-2 does not have a high level of persistence in the environment, due to it being an enveloped virus and can be eliminated effectively by water treatment, especially chlorination, and would pose a minimal risk to drinking water.

Email: [email protected]

Resumption of burials a high risk the country cannot afford to take – MP Muzammil

SLPP (Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna) National List MP Mohammed Muzammil yesterday strongly urged the government not to resume burial of Muslim corona victims under any circumstances, though a section of the Muslim community is demanding that Muslim covid-19 victims be allowed to be buried.

Muzammil, who represents the National Freedom Front (NFF), a constituent of the SLPP, said that the country was struggling to cope with the corona pandemic and no one should be allowed to play politics at a time of national health emergency.

The NFF has five elected MPs and one National List MP in the 145-member SLPP parliamentary group.

In a brief interview with The Island over the phone, the former JVP MP emphasised that whatever the religious dictates and sentiments, the Sri Lankan Muslim community should adhere to specific instructions issued by the government as regards the cremation of corona victims.

Pointing out that the ongoing corona second wave could lead to a an unprecedented catastrophe, Muzammil said the Muslim community had no option but to follow government guidelines. The national economy was already in tatters, as in many other countries, with all major revenue sources such as tourism, garment trade and foreign remittances badly affected, and, therefore any further deterioration of health situation could be disastrous, the MP said.

The government would have to take decisions for the benefit of all people, the MP said, adding that the burial of corona victims was against the health guidelines now in place. Commenting on other Muslim members of parliament pushing for the burial of Muslims dying of COVID-19, Muzammil said that they should be free to express their views. “There is nothing wrong in them taking a stand on this sensitive issue,” the MP said, emphasizing the responsibility on the part of the government to do the right thing.

Muzammil said that he deeply regretted the issue caused by the demand for Muslim burial rights. Responding to another query, the MP pointed out that the Catholic community accepted the government dictates in that regard without causing unnecessary issues.

The MP warned of dire consequences if decision-makers allowed burials at the expense of, what he called the overall health of the country. “Let me explain how burial of bodies could cause a catastrophe. Unlike Catholics, we do not cover a hole dug in the ground to receive the body with sand. Instead, we place some planks and then cover them with sand. This can pose quite a health hazard. Therefore burials shouldn’t be permitted under any circumstances,” Muzammil said.

The MP pointed out how the community could be affected if bodies were released to the families. There could be corona outbreaks all over the place, lawmaker Muzammil said, pointing out how the situation could go out of control.

Responding to another query, Muzammil said that he might earn the wrath of a section of the community for taking a stand contrary to that of their other members of parliament. The lawmaker said that he felt it was his duty to educate the Muslims of the need to follow the government guidelines and also strengthen the government initiatives to contain the rapidly spreading virus.

The MP urged that no one should play politics with the issue at the expense of the country. The country should be told in no uncertain terms that decisions were taken by the government, in consultation with the health authorities, and the military, and it would be the responsibility of all communities to follow specific instructions.

All communities, including the Muslims, should be prepared to give up traditions, and practices, until experts had finalized studies, he said.

“We are still in control of the situation. But, we are certainly not in a position to take a chance. Decisions must be followed to the letter. I also believe Muslims have to be buried. I support that position. But the extraordinary situation on the ground makes my personal stand, on this matter, irrelevant,” MP Muzammil said.

Whatever the politicians say, the vast majority of Lankans realized that the country should follow what was best for all, the NFF representative said.

Muzammil warned that burial of COVID-19 victims could, overnight, cause the rapid deterioration of the situation. Urging the government to be firm on the matter, the MP said: “Please don’t let a few illogical men jeopardize the health of all.”

Muslim burials were done in accordance with Arabian customs which the Sri Lankan Muslim community would have to give up or face the consequences. “We shouldn’t be part of the problem,” the lawmaker said.

Lawmaker Muzammil said that though he wanted to oppose resumption of burials and generally dealt with the issue, he couldn’t get an opportunity to address the parliament when the Corona threat was debated on Oct 23. “The government parliamentary group was allocated 162 minutes. There were 31 speakers, I wasn’t among them.”

Muzammil said that the Muslim community should speak in one voice on this matter.