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Taroudant, Morocco-International leaders and experts in the field of disease control are gathering to find a medical solution to treat and stop the outbreak of the Ebola virus, which has swept through West Africa.
The Moroccan Ministry of Public Health is reportedly seeking the advice of uluma, as Muslim legal scholars are known.
The Moroccan newspaper daily Al Akhbar reported in its September 24th edition that a regional director of public health has stated his ministry has asked the High Council of Ulumas to issue a Fatwa allowing the burial of victims of Ebola without the mortuary washing, an Islamic ritual.
Indeed, in addition to sanitary surveillance ordered by the Ministry of Health to detect and isolate cases of the virus immediately to prevent widespread outbreak in the kingdom, the Moroccan Ministry also reportedly appealed to the Uluma to issue a fatwa on the treatment of remains of the victims of the virus.
The Department of Health questioned whether Sharia law allowed for the burial of victims of Ebola without their remains having been washed according to Muslim rites. The underlying concern by the Department was the safety of those conducting the mortuary ritual, as such a move would endanger those engaged in the cleansing, since the virus spreads through physical touch between people.
Houcine El Ouardi, the Health Minister, announced that no case of the Ebola virus was detected to date in Morocco, confirming the establishment of a national watch and response plan against the epidemic.
In line with Morocco’s influential policy in the continent and its willingness to break the isolation of the Ebola-effected counties, Moroccan carrier Royal Air Maroc has vowed to maintain its regular flights to other African countries affected by the Ebola epidemic.
