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People from the Muslim minority in Sri Lanka demonstrated against the forced burning of the bodies of those killed with COVID-19, coinciding with the arrival of Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, who is on an official visit to Colombo.
Muslim protesters carried a symbolic coffin, denouncing the Sri Lankan government’s policy of banning the burial of virus victims and ignoring their religious rituals.
The demonstration is aimed at Khan, who two weeks ago highlighted the plight of Muslims in Sri Lanka.
Khan welcomed Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa’s announcement on February 10 that Muslims would be allowed to bury their dead, but Colombo reversed his decision the next day, declaring that there would be no change in policy. cremation.
The protesters carried a banner reading “Respect the Prime Minister’s Statement and Allow Burial” as they gathered in front of President Gotapaya Rajapaksa’s office.
The Sri Lankan government rejected calls from international bodies and the recommendations of its experts to allow Muslims to bury their dead according to their religious rites.
Since April, the government has prevented the burial of the Covid-19 deceased, in light of fears fueled by influential Buddhist monks loyal to President Gotabaya Rajapakse that burying the bodies of those killed in the epidemic could contaminate groundwater and contribute to the spread of the virus.
The World Health Organization considers that the risk of this situation does not exist, but the Sri Lankan government refuses to trust this opinion.
Maldives, the Muslim archipelago, announced last month that neighboring Sri Lanka had requested permission to send the bodies of Muslims who died with Covid-19 for burial according to their rituals, which Colombo denied.
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