Question : DENYING INDIANS FROM PERFORMING RITUAL



(a) whether foreign countries do not allow Indians to consign the dead bodies of the near ones to flames; and

(b) if so, the names of such countries and the reasons therefor?

Answer given by the minister


MINISTER OF STATE OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

(SHRI AJIT KUMAR PANJA)

(a) & (b) According to information available with the Government, the following 24 countries do not permit cremation of mortal remains:

Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan, Kuwait, Senegal, Gambia, Mali, Mauritania, Cape Verde Islands, Guinea Bissau, Tunisia, Turkey, Greece, Israel, Libya, Burkina Faso, Malta, Maldives, Ivory Coast, Niger, Guinea, Micronesia, Paraguay and Turkmenistan.

Cremation is not permitted in these countries for reasons such as the religious or traditional ethos of the country.