Bin Laden�s sea burial to prevent creation of shrine at gravesite

Bin Laden�s sea burial to prevent creation of shrine at gravesite

By fijivillage.com
03/05/2011
US officials say Osama Bin Laden's body was treated with respect and buried at sea, but some Muslims argue there was no good reason for not burying it on land.

Islamic tradition required the dead to be buried as soon as possible, unless an autopsy is required.

The US military took this requirement very seriously, burying the body within hours.

US officials say religious rites were carried out on the deck of a US aircraft carrier, the USS Carl Vinson.

The body, shrouded in a white sheet and placed in a weighted bag, was then placed on a flat board, tipped up, and eased into the Arabian Sea.

This occurred 12 hours after the firefight during which Osama Bin Laden was shot in the head.

After this first shot, he was shot again, to make sure that he was dead.

The body was then flown to Afghanistan and Bin Laden's identity was confirmed.

Officials say a DNA sample was taken that matched that of several other family members.

Some sources say facial recognition technology was also used.

US officials have given two reasons why a sea burial was chosen.

First, that they did not want his grave to become a shrine.

Second, that there was no time to negotiate with other countries to arrange a possible burial on land.

According to CBS News, Saudi Arabia refused to take the body.

If correct, this suggests that an offer was made   and that had Saudi Arabia accepted the body, there would have been a grave, which could in theory have become a shrine.


Story by:
Vijay Narayan
FEATURE NEWS
Claims of student laziness are generalised, not backed by data – Radrodro
Minister for Education, Aseri Radrodro says he believes that teachers are making generalised statements regarding the concerns raised in the West abou...
16 hours ago
LATEST NEWS
Sexual health screening for PALM workers
By: Mikaela Seymour and Stefanie Vaccher Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) Scheme workers and employers consistently rate healthcare, ...
14 minutes ago

Heavy Rain Warning in place for most of Fiji
A Heavy Rain Warning remains in force for the interior and coastal areas of southeastern parts of Viti Levu from Momi, Sigatoka, Rakiraki, Navua, ...
2 hours ago

PSC to look into alleged racist remarks by PS for iTaukei Affairs
The Public Service Commission will be looking into the alleged racist remarks by Permanent Secretary for iTaukei Affairs Jone Navakamocea on his ...
15 hours ago

Dr Vinesh Kumar appointed as new Sugar and Multi-Ethnic Affairs PS
Sugar Research Institute of Fiji CEO Dr Vinesh Kumar has been appointed as the new Permanent Secretary for Multi-Ethnic Affairs and Sugar Industry ...
16 hours ago

Panapasa abuse of office case adjourned till 30th July
Former Acting Commissioner of Fiji Corrections Service, Salote Panapasa's abuse of office case has been adjourned to 30th July. Panapasa's lawyer ...
16 hours ago



fijivillage Straight Talk with Vijay Narayan
Latest Videos

Stay tuned for the latest news on our radio stations

CFL radio frequencies
IN DEPTH
Women in Media Conference 2025
Top journalists, media workers, civil society voices, and regional delegates meeting in Suva for the inaugural Women in Media Conference 2025.
5 days ago

Ben Salacakau and Glenis Yee on fijivillage Straight Talk With Vijay Narayan
The show focuses on the gaps in Fiji’s education system and what needs to be done, the pressure on committee run schools to keep the schools ...
11 days ago

Fiji Airways Men’s National 7s coach Osea Kolinisau on fijivillage Straight Talk with Vijay Narayan
Osea Kolinisau on fijivillage Straight Talk with Vijay Narayan
14 days ago

TOP