UN condemns Sri Lanka’s ‘ethnocentric’ forced cremation policy

: Post 25 January 2021

A policeman stands guard as the protesters display a banner condemning government's forced cremation policy of Muslim Covid19 victims. - December 31, 2020, Colombo | © Lakshman Warnakulasooriya / JDS

UN has condemned Sri Lanka that the government’s policy of forced cremation of the COVID-19 as ethnocentric.

Issuing a strongly worded statement from Geneva, a group of UN experts urged the Sri Lankan Government to end its policy of forced cremation of the COVID-19 deceased, saying it ran contrary to the beliefs of Muslims and other minorities in the country, and could foment existing prejudices, intolerance and violence.

“We deplore the implementation of such public health decisions based on discrimination, aggressive nationalism and ethnocentrism amounting to persecution of Muslims and other minorities in the country,” said the experts. “Such hostility against the minorities exacerbates existing prejudices, intercommunal tensions, and religious intolerance, sowing fear and distrust while inciting further hatred and violence.”

'No medical evidence'

The statement warned the government that the forced cremation policy has no scientific foundation.

“The imposition of cremation as the only option for handling the bodies confirmed or suspected of COVID-19 amounts to a human rights violation. There has been no established medical or scientific evidence in Sri Lanka or other countries that burial of dead bodies leads to increased risk of spreading communicable diseases such as COVID-19,” said the experts.

The experts who issued the statement are, Ahmed Shaheed, Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief; Fernand de Varennes, Special Rapporteur on minority issues; Clément Nyaletsossi Voule, Special Rapporteur on the rights of peaceful assembly and association; and Tlaleng Mofokeng,Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health.