Lebanese forced to bury their dead twice as war robs them of final goodbyes

"In south Lebanon, war has robbed the dead of their final goodbye. Families have been forced to abandon traditional funeral rites and bury their loved ones in temporary graveyards farther north."

"In Islam, a body should not be exhumed after being buried. It is typically washed, wrapped in a white shroud and placed directly into the ground without a casket."

"A Muslim can be buried in any Muslim cemetery. But people have emotional attachment; they want their loved ones buried in their ancestral land. It reflects belonging, heritage and presence."

In Lebanon, traditional funeral rites involve a final farewell in the deceased's hometown. However, ongoing conflict has forced families to abandon these customs, burying loved ones in temporary graveyards. In Tyre, makeshift ditches serve as graves, marked only by numbers. Despite the danger, some, like Rabih Koubaissi, remain to oversee burials. Islamic customs dictate that bodies should not be exhumed, but war allows for exceptions. Emotional ties to ancestral land complicate the situation, as families desire to honor their heritage even amidst turmoil.

Read at www.theguardian.com