Male’, Maldives – The former President of Maldives and current Speaker of the parliament, Mohamed Nasheed has stated that the Sri Lankan Muslims who passes away from the Covid-19 virus can be buried in Maldives.
The statement from Nasheed comes after President of Sri Lanka, Gotabaya Rajapaksa addressed a letter to President of Maldives, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, requesting him to assist in burying the deceased Muslims under proper burial proceedings as Sri Lanka has difficulties in arranging the proceedings for Muslims who were passing away from the Covid-19 virus.
While President Solih discussed with concerning authorities to find out a way to solve the difficulties and to bury the bodies in Maldives, several people including former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom have expressed dissatisfaction towards President Solih’s decision.
However, Nasheed tweeted supporting President Solih saying that the two neighboring countries must stick together through sickness and health.
While Muslims account for approximately 10 percent of Sri Lanka’s 21 million population, the Sri Lankan government had decided to cremate all the Muslim Covid-19 victims who passes away from the virus.
Although the Islamic religion does not support cremation, the Sri Lankan authorities has already cremated at least 15 Muslim coronavirus victims, including a 20-day old infant against family consent.
This has raised an outrage in the country and the Muslims in Sri Lanka have started raising their voices against this action, as they are being deprived of their human rights.
While former President is against the burial of Muslim victims in Maldives, several Islamic scholars have supported the decision of President Solih and said that the Muslims must not be cremated and Maldives must help in it.
The former Islamic Minister of Maldives, Dr. Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeedh also fully supported the decision of President Solih and said that the bodies of Muslims must not let be cremated and that the closest Muslim country must assist in providing proper burial proceedings.
However, he also noted that he believes that all the Muslim citizens of Sri Lanka who passes away from the Covid-19 virus must be given the chance to be buried under proper Islamic burial proceedings in their own country and that it is their right as a human along with Islamic right as well.
