UAE Embassy dismayed by misleading reports in SL over burials of COVID-19 victims in Sharjah

The Embassy of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) yesterday expressed dismay and concern over a news item published in local media websites and social media concerning directive issued by the ruler of Sharjah on 3 April regarding the burial of victims of coronavirus in the UAE.

In an official statement released yesterday, the UAE Embassy said that Supreme Council Member and Sharjah Ruler Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi directed authorities not to bury any of the victims of COVID-19 in Al Saja’a due to the lack of space, and that they be buried in another specified area.

“UAE has not banned the burial of those who die of coronavirus, nor has our country instructed that the bodies be cremated. We believe that a deceased person’s body should be treated with dignity, wherever the cause of death may be, without prejudice or discrimination,” the Embassy said.

The Embassy noted with shock that this news item has been manipulated and maliciously interpreted as though it was a directive to cremate the bodies of the victims and not to bury them, and is being published in the local media, in a manner that could incite racism and hatred against the Muslims of Sri Lanka.

“The Embassy strongly condemns this deliberate attempt and urges the relevant authorities in Sri Lanka to take necessary steps to remove the said news items from all websites immediately, and to rectify the misinformation by issuing an appropriate clarification,” the statement said.