The General Secretariat of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) welcomed the #SriLankan government’s decision to refrain from cremating the bodies of Muslim victims of the COVID-19 virus and to allow their burial.
The General Secretariat, headed by Secretary-General, Dr. Yousef Al-Othaimeen, has called on the Sri Lankan authorities on several occasions since the outbreak of COVID19 to refrain from cremating the bodies of Muslim victims and allow their burial according to Islamic rituals.
The Secretary-General renewed that call in his speech before the 46th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (#HRC46), on February 23, 2021.
While appreciating the response of the Sri Lankan authorities to these calls, the General Secretariat reaffirms the commitment of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to follow up the situation of Muslim communities and minorities in non-member states and defend their rights.
The OIC General Secretariat hopes that the decision of the authorities in Sri Lanka will contribute to protecting the rights of Muslims there.