U.S. official describes rites; Islamic clerics debate if procedure was proper or humiliating

U.S. official describes rites; Islamic clerics debate if procedure was proper or humiliating

CAIRO — Al-Qaida 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 during 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 placed on a prepared flat board, tipped up, whereupon the deceased's body eased into the sea from the USS Vinson.

The rites sparked a debate about Islamic customs, with some Muslim clerics calling the procedure humiliating and others saying it was proper.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42859914

'some Muslim clerics calling the procedure humiliating and others saying it was proper.'

means we were trying to ameliorate reactions to his death. Lessen the blow back if at all possible.

They should have kept the body frozen for future use to debunk conspiracy theories.