COVID-19 burials UAE slams unsubstantiated reports

• The embassy said Dr. Shaikh Sultan bin Mohamed had directed not to allow the burial of any coronavirus victim in Al Saja

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) Embassy in Colombo has cautioned of attempts to incite racism and hatred against Muslims through misleading reports. The warning came as reports spread yesterday on social media that UAE had banned the burial of coronavirus victims. 

The embassy insisted that no such decision was taken and that such reports were misleading. It said there was no truth to reports that UAE banned the burial of coronavirus victims nor had it instructed that the bodies be cremated. 

Reports circulating on social media claimed that Dr. Shaikh Sultan bin Mohamed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, had directed the Islamic Affairs Department in Sharjah not to allow the burial of any coronavirus victim in Al Saja’a. 

The embassy said Dr. Shaikh Sultan bin Mohamed had directed not to allow the burial of any coronavirus victim in Al Saja’a due to the lack of space and that they be buried in another specified area. 

In the statement, the UAE embassy said it strongly condemned the deliberate attempt to incite racism and hatred against the Muslims 
of Sri Lanka. 

• UAE embassy said it strongly condemned the deliberate attempt to incite racism and hatred against the Muslims of Sri Lanka