Image Credit: endocrineweb.com
By Rashika Fazali
I’m scared. I admit it. Some would say that one should never admit it for fear of fear itself being taken against you. But if we don’t speak our own truth, how can we speak for others?
It’s hard being a woman or of the female sex in Sri Lanka, but it’s even tougher being a Muslim woman. Actually, right now, it’s worse being just a Muslim in Sri Lanka. We have been bashed for an evil act that someone who claimed to be a ‘Muslim’ did to our people, Sri Lankans. We are ridiculed for the way we conduct ourselves as per our faith. Most Muslims in Sri Lanka are moderates who are trying to live a peaceful life within different societies whilst moving and embracing other faiths and cultures. But they are also the same people who are gravely tested, a humongous injustice caused to one sect of people right now in Sri Lanka for no wrong of theirs, but for simply believing in a religion.
I’m an expectant mother – a first-time-mother who is so scared for her baby. I’m not terrified of sickness because it’s part and parcel of this life, and to a certain extent, it is inevitable. We have to face the good, the bad, and the sickness, but being careful and cautious is up to every human being. At the same time, I’m not scared of dying either because nothing in life is certain, but death. We are all going to die one day, and in Islam, we believe that death is not the end of life itself. But what I’m actually scared of are the lies and the injustice directed towards a sect of people who are against cremation. I’m scared that my baby may contract Covid-19 by an unknown and unlikely source. I’m scared of the stories of parents being Covid-19 negative, but the baby is positive. But more than anything, what pains me the most is what if my baby supposedly dies from Covid-19, and I’m not granted my human right to see my baby and bury my flesh. As I mentioned, death is inevitable, but we are a species formed by tiny cells merged together that have learned to feel so deeply. We cry, mourn the dead and eventually move on, but HOW does one move on without CLOSURE?
Pregnancy is a beautiful, yet scary experience. For a first-timer, it’s unnerving. You have no idea what to expect. It’s new territory. It’s also a sensitive time where you want to be surrounded by people you love like your parents, siblings, and friends who can help, support, and guide you through this exciting phase of life. For Nusrath, a first-time mum who gave birth in November of last year recalled that it was difficult being pregnant during a pandemic. “Having regular clinics, you go to the hospital with fear, and only you are allowed inside the scan room”, said Nusrath who also expressed her sadness in not being able to see her parents due to the nationwide lockdowns.
With reports of babies and children contracting Covid-19, there is a palpable sense of fear amongst parents. “I broke even more than before fearing and thinking about my unborn (baby). What if I don’t get a chance to see my baby? What if they separate us?”, said Nusrath. Another first-time mum, Thameema who gave birth last year right before Covid-19 hit Sri Lanka said, “I cried every time I heard a baby die of Covid-19 and got cremated. I rarely take my baby out. See, I got her after 7 years and that too adds up to the worry.” These are just a few stories out of thousand of others that are living in fear of the current Covid-19 and cremation situation. Women who are pregnant are vulnerable, facing different challenges in life ranging from running a household to working to changes in their body to anxiety levels to weakened immune systems. And now there’s one more thing for them to worry about.
For the families that lost their loved ones, I can’t even begin to understand their pain. Can you imagine what it’s like to lose someone and not be able to see your dead loved one for one last time? For Muslims especially, it’s a double-edged sword; Covid-19 victims are cremated, something Islam strongly prohibits. There are also people of other faiths and cultures who don’t believe in cremation as well. But for the sake of this argument, let’s forget about religion for a while. Some people don’t even believe in religion, but most believe in science. So far, only one committee has stated that cremation is the only disposal method, while the College of Community Physicians of Sri Lanka (CCPSL), Sri Lanka Medical Association (SLMA), and an 11-member expert committee appointed by the Ministry of Health has stated that both burial and cremation are the two acceptable methods for disposing of Covid-19 deceased. The earlier decision enforced in March 2020 is said to have been taken based on limited scientific evidence which I would say is understandable to a certain extent given that there was a lack of understanding about this new virus at that time. But without scientific evidence and no regard for religious considerations, the government enforced its cremation policy causing pain and injustice to minorities in Sri Lanka. They also disregarded the guidelines provided by the World Health Organization (WHO) under ‘Infection prevention and control for the safe management of a dead body in the context of Covid-19′ where it specifically states that “people who have died from Covid-19 can be buried or cremated according to local standards or family preferences”. One of the key considerations denoted by WHO is to respect and protect the dignity of the dead, their cultures, and religious traditions. How are we ignoring these guidelines? Isn’t that a gross violation of our human rights? Are we to believe that we do not have the right to bury our dead as per their wishes and faith? Or is there no peace even in death?
The stories we have heard in the last few months have haunted me. Last year in December, a 20-day old infant was forcibly cremated against the wishes of the parents who are Muslims. They are still unsure of how their baby contracted the virus even though they were negative, and no governing authority has given them the answers. In January, they took up a Fundamental Rights case to the Supreme Cout petitioning for the release of hospital records of their 20-day old infant. Their petition also seeks for an appointment of a special committee to look into the procedure of disposing of Covid-19 victims. Can you imagine their grief? If you are a parent and if this happens to you, how would you feel?
We often say that things happen for the good of the people and for the greater good of our nation. Does this mean that we should let discrimination slide for the greater good? This country consists of you and me, Sri Lankans of many faiths, and our laws state that we should not discriminate against people based on certain factors, but the law also has certain restrictions on our fundamental rights in the interest of national security, public order, public health, mortality, “securing due recognition and respect for the rights and freedoms of others” and the general welfare of the society. Does this mean we are doomed for good?
Recently, UN human rights experts appealed to the Sri Lankan government to terminate its policy on forcible cremation of Covid-19 deceased in hopes that this measure will prevent racial violence and squash the injustices meted to minorities in Sri Lanka. The country’s reasoning for cremation is founded on how burials are likely to contaminate water and thereby increase the spread of the virus. However, an expert panelist stated that viruses need a living host to continue the spread of the virus. With a dead body, the remaining virus will die over a period of time. Whatever residual virus that may get into the water is so minimal – it gets diluted into a large body of water, and that is inadequate for infection. With this level of research carried out, in January of this year, the government7 still refused to acknowledge this information and continued its policy on cremation of all Covid-19 deceased.
Then a miracle happened. Just a few weeks ago, Prime Minister (PM) Mahinda Rajapaksa announced that burials of Covid-19 deceased will be allowed in the future, ending an almost yearlong battle for justice. But a day after, reports came in asserting that no such thing was said. One politician even went far by stating that the PM only referred to burials in general and not regarding the burials of Covid-19 victims. A confused reporter then went onto state that we have always allowed burials in Sri Lanka as a standard procedure for disposal of the deceased and this was never opposed. A lie was caught in the act, so the politician quickly moved on to the subject of how the president, the PM, and the ministers cannot make decisions pertaining to Covid-19 and how there is an expert committee to look into those matters. A State Minister at a parliament session stated that the decision of burials can only be undertaken by a technical committee handled by the Ministry of Health. In other words, the PM’s word means nothing in parliament or at any level and the advice of the expert health committees counts for nothing. How does another “technical committee” reverse a decision made by the government after so many medical associations and expert committees appointed by the government gave an elaborate answer on why burials can be allowed, and yet the government failed to listen to that? But we know that what was said in the parliament by the PM was not a joke because even international media outlets reported, and dignitaries like Pakistan’s Prime Minister applauded the country’s decision to allow burials of Covid-19 victims.
The country is yet at another standstill. Without a gazette approving and enabling the burial of Covid-19 victims, minority groups are still ill at ease because cremation still continues. Time is of the utmost importance because each day that goes by without any sort of gazette means another body is cremated against the wishes of thyself, family, and religion. Saying is assuring, but following through is a relief and moreover, a definite answer to this nightmare.
I sincerely pray for all the victims of Covid-19 that have been cremated against their wishes. I hope no one goes through that ordeal and that relief is granted to each Sri Lankan very soon.