French Muslim families have been left grappling for answers in the wake of the Covid-19 outbreak over a critical lack of proper Islamic burial plots available for those killed during the crisis.
As citizens of all faiths in France deal with the grim new realities presented by the global pandemic, Muslims in particular face the prospect of being unable to bury their loved ones according to their religious customs.
At present, according to reports, only 600 towns and cities out of France’s 35,000 communes have designated Muslim burial areas.
With more than 15,700 people killed in France by the coronavirus and in excess of 103,000 reported cases, Muslim leaders have lobbied authorities at every level, from French President Emmanuel Macron down to local mayors, for a swift resolution to problem.
The French Council for the Muslim Faith said it has been frustrated by the slowness of the response even if Mr Macron as well as French Interior Minister Christophe Castaner have said they will ensure Muslims who die during the pandemic are buried according to tradition.
“Whenever a difficulty has been reported to it, the CFCM has systematically contacted the mayor of the municipality concerned to find solutions. However, it is clear that some of these solutions are slow to come, plunging families into anxiety, worry and misunderstanding,” the council said.
“In this historic period that we are going through, we solemnly ask the mayors of France to take responsibility for the suffering and pain of these families who have lost a loved one and who find themselves in great difficulty in burying their deceased."
Already the CFCM, which has close contacts with the government in Paris, has had to agree to extraordinary measures for Muslims in the face of the global health emergency.
The council has agreed to halt some traditional funeral rites, such as washing the body before burial, as a precaution during the outbreak. Similarly, the size of funeral gatherings has been reduced. Mosques have closed in France, as they have across the world.
Muslim leaders in France’s greatest fear was that bodies would be cremated without family present, though this has been ruled out by French authorities. In worst case scenarios allowances have been made for bodies buried outside Muslim cemeteries to be exhumed and reburied according to tradition after the crisis is over.
Throughout the Covid-19 crisis in France, Muslim leaders have reasserted the need for solidarity with French authorities and urged the preservation of life above every other priority.
On Monday France announced it would be extending the country’s lockdown to curb the coronavirus outbreak until May 11. Mr Macron said progress had been made against the pandemic but the battle was not yet won.
“Over the next four weeks, the rules must be respected,” the president said in a televised address to the nation.
He said that by May 11, France would be able to test every citizen presenting Covid-19 symptoms.
Blonde
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Race card
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,600m
5.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m
6pm: Arabian Triple Crown Round-1 Listed (PA) Dh230,000 (T) 1,600m
6.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 1,400m
7pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,200m
7.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 (T) 2,400m
The Details
Kabir Singh
Produced by: Cinestaan Studios, T-Series
Directed by: Sandeep Reddy Vanga
Starring: Shahid Kapoor, Kiara Advani, Suresh Oberoi, Soham Majumdar, Arjun Pahwa
Rating: 2.5/5
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
MATCH INFO
Watford 2 (Sarr 50', Deeney 54' pen)
Manchester United 0
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Where to donate in the UAE
The Emirates Charity Portal
You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments
The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.
Al Noor Special Needs Centre
You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.
Beit Al Khair Society
Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.
Dar Al Ber Society
Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.
Dubai Cares
Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.
Emirates Airline Foundation
Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.
Emirates Red Crescent
On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.
Gulf for Good
Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.
Noor Dubai Foundation
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).
More from Aya Iskandarani
The biog
Favourite book: You Are the Placebo – Making your mind matter, by Dr Joe Dispenza
Hobby: Running and watching Welsh rugby
Travel destination: Cyprus in the summer
Life goals: To be an aspirational and passionate University educator, enjoy life, be healthy and be the best dad possible.
Asia Cup 2018 final
Who: India v Bangladesh
When: Friday, 3.30pm, Dubai International Stadium
Watch: Live on OSN Cricket HD
Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
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