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Osama's Speedy Sea Burial: Where's The Certificate?
By
Christopher Robbins
Published May 2, 2011
Modified May 2, 2011
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AP
By
Christopher Robbins
Published May 2, 2011
Modified May 2, 2011
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Not surprisingly, there seems to be conflicting opinions regarding Osama Bin Laden's burial at sea, and whether or not it violated the central tenets of Islam. Reuters quotes the leader of Egypt's prestigious learning center, al-Azhar, as saying that the sea burial "contradicts all the religious values and human norms." Meanwhile, Khalid Latif, NYU's Islamic Center director said that Islamic law is "flexible" in this instance, and that "letting bin Laden's body 'wash back and forth in the sea'" was preferable to a land burial that would "create an opportunity for many individuals to unleash and lash out their rage against him. He made lives terrible for so many of us."
The New York Times, quoting an official, couches Bin Laden's burial in oddly peaceful terms, noting that "a military officer read religious rites—translated into Arabic—and then the body was placed on a board, tipped up and 'eased into the sea.'" Perhaps the official's emphasis on "easing" rather than "chucking" is due to the administration's caution to not offend or insult Muslims, but Birthers have already begun seeing something nefarious in the speedy disposal of the leader of Al Qaeda. The same people who demanded (and still demand) proof of the President's birth on US soil will need to see photographic proof of Bin Laden's demise. In fact, according to Al Qaeda, Bin Laden is still alive! He's probably kicking back with an Arnold Palmer and a signed copy of Freedom right now.
Tagged
barack obama
islam
NYU
Osama bin Laden
president obama
Sea Burials
terrorism
Christopher Robbins
Christopher Robbins is a New York City reporter covering transportation, affordable housing, local politics, and criminal justice. His work has also appeared in New York Magazine, The Village Voice and The New York Times. Chris is a graduate of Patrick Henry High School in Roanoke, Virginia, and enjoys biking to Fort Tilden in the summertime.
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