PROBLEMS Imams forced to wash the deceased, even when COVID-19 is suspected

(Patria) - Funeral homes are barely managing to do their job. Unfortunately, the number of deceased is increasing, and the epidemiological situation in BiH remains difficult while hospital capacities are full. 

In the Covid-19 pandemic, there are numerous categories of people, professions, who are directly exposed to infected individuals, in addition to medical workers who are on the front lines.

A group of imams contacted the Patria agency, revealing many problems they face on condition of anonymity.

“After someone dies, whether Covid positive or not, the first phone call is to the imam. Particularly risky are situations where a person dies at home under Covid-suspected circumstances, with certain symptoms, but the person was either not tested, or tested but results are not ready, or they were told by the Covid clinic to go home and take fever reducers. According to Islamic regulations, before burial and funeral prayer, deceased persons must be washed - gasuliti,” they begin their story.

When there is no official confirmation that the deceased did not die from Covid, even if everything points to it, the imam must wash the person, at the family’s request, even though they themselves know that the deceased died with symptoms pointing to Corona.

“Of course, there are numerous similar risky situations where imams, after a person loses the most important battle in life, are the first to come into contact with the family and the deceased. Some will say, we believe, and many will, that they don't care about imams or hodjas, they will turn the story in another direction, however, there is something also very important. When an imam washes-gasuls a person who was likely positive for Covid, they need to enter classrooms with children, the mosque with believers, and finally, they need to return home to their families,” the imams point out.

They note that no one refuses to do their job, but they ask everyone to think and put themselves in their position.

“A lot is confusing, especially in smaller communities where many people are not tested. We do not have adequate protection,” it is stated.