Board calls on government to 'respect religious traditions' and allow burial for coronavirus deaths

The Board of Deputies has called on the government to “respect religious traditions on cremation and burial” over coronavirus deaths as emergency legislation threatens to empower authorities to cremate bodies without consent.

Board President Maire van der Zyl said on the government should to include exemptions to proposed legislation so local authorities would still have to respect the deceased's religious beliefs.

The Coronavirus Bill, the two-year emergency legislation that the government is seeking to pass this week, includes a clause that permits local authorities to cremate a body even if it is against the wishes of the deceased or their family.

Mrs van der Zyl said: “We know there will be deaths as a result of this virus. Every death is a tragedy and we are aware that two members of the Jewish community sadly lost their lives over the weekend.”