Islamic laws suspended because of Tsunami emergency
Jakarta (AsiaNews) Indonesia's ulemas have given the green light to mass burial. In a statement released today, the Indonesian Ulemas Council (Majelis Ulama Indonesia or MUI) gave instructions as to how to bury the 100,000 or so people who died in the December 26 tsunami.
MUI's executive member KH Maruf Amin said that given the emergency situation in Aceh traditional Islamic burial practices can be suspended. Instead of being washing and wrapped in a shroud, a body can be buried in common graves. "Bodies can be buried at any place where they are found [. . .] in any ground," he insisted.
The emergency situation has also led the ulemas to the temporary relaxation of Islamic dietary laws since it is impossible to check that all emergency food shipments.
This afternoon the Social Affairs Minister updated tsunami-related figures. Thus far there are 104,055 confirmed dead, 10,088 people missing and 655,132 displaced. There are also 1,448 people injured under medical care.
Here is the death toll per city or province:
ACEH
Meulaboh: 28,251
Banda Aceh: 20,066
Aceh Besar: 17,564
Aceh Jaya: 15,000
West Aceh: 7,020
Calang: 5,000
Aceh Island: 4,000
North Aceh: 7,020
Pidie: 1,359
Nagan Raya: 1,338
East Aceh: 894
Bireun: 594
Lhokseumawe: 198
Krueng Mane: 117
Sabang, Weh Island: 12
South Aceh: 6
NORTH SUMATRA
Nias Island: 227
Deli Serdang: 8
Cermin Coast: 8
Simeuleu: 7
Sergai: 4
Adam Malik Hospital: 3
Madina: 1
Central Tapanuli: 1
13/01/2005