The Hindu : Front Page : Family wants Kafeel buried in U.K.

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Saturday, Aug 04, 2007
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Family wants Kafeel buried in U.K.

Staff Reporter

Mother hopes eventually both sons would be proved innocent

BANGALORE: The family of Kafeel Ahmed, a suspect in the failed Glasgow terror attack who died at a hospital in the United Kingdom, would prefer his last rites to be performed there.

Umar Sharief, who held a prayer meeting at the residence of Kafeel’s parents, told journalists on Friday that according to Islamic laws, burial should take place as soon as possible. He said, “the family feels that land is land whether it is in India, Europe or America as long as he is united with the Almighty.” The family is not planning to visit the U.K., and has not heard from the authorities as yet, he claimed.

Mr. Sharief, an Islamic scholar associated with the Bangalore-based Discover Islam Educational Trust, conducted the Magrib Salah and Isha Namaz at the residence of the Ahmeds in which Kafeel’s father, Maqbool, also took part. The preacher spent over two hours with the family.

Zakia, Kafeel’s mother, was unable to understand Kafeel’s involvement in the Glasgow airport terminal attack, he said. "Dr. Zakia is yet to come to terms with the tragedy and still harbours the hope that her son might be proved innocent eventually," he said.

Mr. Sharief said: “During the conversation, Dr. Zakia also termed her son’s act as stupid, if he at all he was involved. She wondered if there was something lacking in his upbringing, or their parentage, or [in his] education. She still believes that whatever has happened might have happened inadvertently.”

The mother kept talking about Kafeel’s childhood, narrating incidents from those days, he added. “The family is hoping that Dr. Sabeel, the brother of Kafeel, who has been detained by the U.K. police, is proved innocent.”

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