PRESS RELEASE: Peaceful car parade protest against the forced cremation of Covid-19 victims in Sri Lanka

Sri Lankan Muslims in Sydney will conduct a peaceful car parade protest against the forced cremation of Covid-19 victims in Sri Lanka. This is one of many events we are organizing to create public awareness and demonstrate our solidarity with our community in Sri Lanka.

The parade is scheduled to commence on 10th January 2021 at 10.00 am starting from the Auburn Botanical Gardens.

The Sri Lankan government has taken a hardline on forced cremation of Covid-19 victims, ignoring the World Health Organization’s (WHO) guidelines which permit both burials and cremations. Muslims and Christians bury the dead. But Sri Lanka’s mandatory cremation policy for those infected with COVID-19 has left minority communities feeling helpless and angry.

We are deeply concerned at the Sri Lankan government mandated policy of cremating victims of Covid-19, which has affected the Muslim community in Sri Lanka. While this may have been justified at the beginning of the pandemic, when little was known of the virus, the past ten months has produced enough and more evidence from the sciences, showing that there is absolutely no cause for concern that the virus can spread after the death of the patient.

An interim guidance from the WHO (September 4, 2020) on infection prevention and control for the safe management of Covid-19 dead has stated that: “The dignity of the dead, their cultural and religious traditions, and their families should be respected and protected throughout”.

We note that even independent medical organisations in Sri Lanka, The Ceylon College of Physicians and the Sri Lanka Medical Association have reiterated that the Covid-19 dead may be safely buried or cremated. In addition, the Ministry of Health appointed expert committee, to report on this issue, composed of virologists, microbiologists and immunologists have come to the same conclusion. Even Prof. Malik Peiris FRS, the world-renowned virologist has emphatically stated that safe burial is possible. In Australia, the Department of Health have issued detailed protocols on how Covid-19 dead should be safely buried while observing religious rites.
We humbly call upon the Sri Lankan government and Health authorities to not isolate yourselves from global opinion and reconsider their position on permitting burials of Covid-19 victims. Sri Lanka has already undergone deep divisions based on ethnic lines in the past, from which we should learn lessons. This should not be perpetuated based on unsound and illogical reasoning.
For and behalf of the Sri Lankan Muslims in Sydney.

Yours Sincerely
Mohamed Rizme Cassim
Assistant Secretary / Communications

Austra-Lanka Muslim Association Inc.