- Apply Buddhist principle of compassion to burial issue
A gazette notification issued in April distressed the Muslim community due to the introduction of a regulation which stated that all bodies of victims who died as a result of Covid-19 would be cremated. This regulation was introduced despite the World Health Organisation (WHO) issuing guidelines on the disposal of the bodies of Covid-19 victims, stating that they can be buried or cremated. Muslims make up 10% of the country and have been raising their voices against the Government’s policy, and Ali Zahir Moulana, former Member of Parliament and activist, has been a prominent figure in this fight since April.
He participated in a silent protest over the weekend where protestors tied white cloths around the Borella cemetery where the body of a 20-day old Muslim infant, the youngest victim of Covid-19 in the country, was cremated despite objection from his parents. The Morning spoke to Moulana during the protest about this policy and the continued fight to reverse it.
The following are excerpts of the interview:
By participating in this protest, what do you hope to achieve?
This is a silent and peaceful protest against forceful cremations. We must not lose faith in our country. By tying these white napkins on the cemetery fence, we hope that it will hang with the shame of this country.
Why is it so important for the Muslim community to bury their dead? Can’t the community adapt to cremations, given the scale of the crisis?
There are two main reasons why burial is so important to us. It is our obligation to give a dignified burial to our loved ones. It is also haram or forbidden to destroy the deceased. It is God’s creation and we don’t have a right to destroy it. We always practise a simple burial, as early as possible. It is the same for a king or a pauper. We do not want cremation to happen without our will.
If they can provide scientific evidence as to why it can’t happen, we will respect it. But the WHO has stated that it is fine to proceed with burials. We are even suggesting that airtight, sealed bags can be used to bury the deceased, along with other WHO guidelines. We are even prepared to find a dry burial spot, although that is not necessary. We are pleading with the Government to grant this for us.
Is this decision an example of the Government treating Muslims as second-class citizens?
Well, I believe that this is a good opportunity for the Government to reach out to the minority community, and fulfil their expectations.
Do you feel that the ban on burials is a direct discrimination of minority communities, especially the Muslim community?
We are hoping and praying for a positive response from the Prime Minister. The expert committee consists of doctors from the GMOA (Government Medical Officers’ Association). How can we believe them? They have been biased against this issue from the beginning. Doctors are people who have to approach any issue on humanitarian grounds. But we do not see that happening here. It is a very unfortunate situation.
I met the Prime Minister on the very first day this issue came to light, on 2 April. At that time, the Health Ministry website did state that either method is fine – burial or cremation. But, Mr. Jamaldeen was still cremated on 29 March. I appealed to Minister Ali Sabry as well. At that meeting, we mentioned that we are even willing to go ahead with steel coffins for extra safety reasons. But, some ministers such as Wimal Weerawansa asked us not to make it a political issue and pushed for an expert committee.
Is the Muslim community disappointed in Minister Ali Sabry for not being able to change this policy despite being the Justice Minister?
He just got into politics and he has tried his level best but he is finding it difficult by himself. Being the Justice Minister, he couldn’t serve justice. It is not that he didn’t try, he just couldn’t. The whole world is saying that there is no scientific reason as to why burials cannot happen, but our people are not accepting it. He has raised this issue on social media but he’s not an experienced politician. Some have very undesirable comments about it but we can’t blame anybody.
Sri Lankans are generally people with a lot of tolerance and patience and that is why we keep praying that one day this matter will be accepted and the policy will be changed. There will be a way, if there is a political will. Everybody is upset after the cremation of the infant because both parents tested negative, but the child tested positive only after the antigen test. The parents wanted to double check with a PCR test, but that was denied and the body of the infant was forcibly cremated. This is where we need justice; the Justice Minister must inquire as to whether there has been any kind of negligence from the hospital. This should not happen to any other family, it should not be repeated.
Do you think the Minister will raise this issue more forcefully in the coming weeks?
We are getting information that they are concerned and that they are trying their best – we have to wait and see. A few weeks back someone had told the paper that Minister Sabry had said the policy is reversed, but finally it didn’t happen. There is a lot of disappointment. If it changes, it has to be gazetted and the circular has to be printed. This compassion and concern can come from all the officials. Only a few people are behaving with a bias. There are many Muslim doctors, nurses, and PHIs (public health inspectors) working during the pandemic. They are exposed to patients and they are afraid that they will be cremated as well if they die.
You recently resigned from the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC). What are your thoughts on the minority representation of Sri Lanka, especially with regard to their reaction to the cremation-only policy of the Government?
Political leaders of this country are important in sustaining the peace of this country. We will stand by the country and do our duty to it, but we urge that in this situation, the Buddhist idea of compassion is practised. The SLMC was founded on the basis that it will provide a democratic voice for the community. We do not see that happening today.
What do you think are the long-term effects of maintaining a cremation-only policy?
So far, there is not a single shred of evidence to say that buried bodies will spread contamination. There have been over a million deaths so far, around the world, and the majority of the deceased is buried. So it is crystal clear as to why we are not allowing burials here. The forced cremation of the 20-day old baby, without the consent of his parents has frustrated all of us. Everybody has children. All of us have mothers and fathers. We are asking the Government to consider this issue on a humane level. It is an unhealthy environment that they are creating.
We are a multi-ethnic, multi-religious country. We have all contributed to the peace process that ended the civil war. We are all contributing to the sovereignty and unity of this country. We are part and parcel of this country. All that we are asking for is a simple, dignified burial for our loved ones.
Do you think strong measures will be taken by the international community against Sri Lanka if this cremation-only policy is continued? Have you appealed to Middle Eastern countries for economic sanctions on Sri Lanka due to this policy?
We are overwhelmed by the support we have gotten from the international community. We are raising a very reasonable request and we hope that the Government will remember that it is there for everyone in the country.
Are you going to the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) or seeking other external assistance?
International actors have raised their concerns against this issue. We are still hoping that these democratic negotiations will finally lead to a good solution.
It was reported that the Maldives is offering to bury Sri Lankan victims on one of their islands. Do you think the community will agree to it?
In our own country, our motherland, all we want is a burial. This is something very ridiculous, if we have to send our bodies abroad to be buried. Our country will be ridiculed if another country is willing to accept our bodies. It is ridiculous. When there was a threat to my life by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), I had to leave the country. Even then I said that I will rather come back to my country and die on my soil. We want to die in this country, that’s how we love it. If somebody else is willing to accept our bodies to be buried, it is a ridiculous situation.