Reuters: Bin Laden burial followed Islamic custom: official (new details)

[steve2470]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/sns-rt-news-us-binladen-butre7411ya-20110502,0,6450085.story

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden was buried at sea from the deck of a U.S. aircraft carrier in the north Arabian Sea after being washed according to Islamic custom and receiving a religious funeral, a U.S. defense official said on Monday.

"Preparations for at-sea burial began at 1:10 a.m. EST and were completed at 2 a.m. EST," the official said. "Traditional procedures for Islamic burial were followed."

"The deceased's body was washed and then placed in a white sheet. The body was placed in a weighted bag. a military officer read prepared religious remarks which were translated into Arabic by a native speaker. After the words were complete, the body was place on a prepared flat board, tipped up, whereupon the deceased's body eased into the sea," the official said.

[elleng]

1. Thanks for this, steve,

'inquiring minds' being what they are.

[steve2470]

2. you're welcome, more discussion of the burial at this link:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42859914/ns/world_news-death_of_bin_laden/

[Azathoth]

3. That was a smart move. Now they can't use his death to call us "anti-Muslim"

So their best recruiting tool disappears. And the subtext is still loud and clear: kill our civilians and you're gonna swim with the fishes.

[Mojorabbit]

9. IT is if it was videotaped

I am reading lots of places that people don't believe it and that the burial at sea makes it all suspicious. Sigh.

[liberal N proud]

4. Showing respect for the dead

Regardless of the life they led.

[Autumn]

5. It's all good

Nothing wrong with doing the right thing.

[Scuba]

6. Following the creremony, it was not possible to get an accurate count of the number of ....

.... sailors pissing over the side.

[More_liberal_than_mo]

7. It's a long way down from the deck

to the sea. "....whereupon the deceased's body eased into the sea." from the deck of an aircraft carrier? More like a 150 foot free fall into the drink! His body would have been at terminal velocity when it hit the water.

[dixiegrrrrl]

8. Gosh...fall like that could kill a guy.

:evilgrin: