Why Osama Buried at Sea?

The body of Osama bin Laden had been drowned in the sea from the deck of a U.S. aircraft carrier because no other alternative available to bury him within 24 hours in accordance with Islamic law, said the counter terrorism adviser on domestic security and U.S. President Barack Obama, John Brennan , Monday (05/02/2011).

"Funeral Bin Laden is still being done in accordance with the teachings and some practice-practice in Islam. That is done in accordance with the provisions of Islamic law," said Brennan told reporters in a briefing at the White House. According to Brennan, it had previously prepared burial like it and want to make sure that it is done correctly.

A senior U.S. Defense Department said, the religious ceremony performed on the deck of the USS Carl Vinson in the Arabian Sea. The ceremony started at 1:10 and finished at 2:10 U.S. time. "His body was washed and placed on a white cloth. A military official who has read a speech prepared, which is then translated into Arabic language by a native language. The body of Osama bin Laden was placed on a flat board, which then launched into the sea, "said the official.

Planning for Bin Laden's burial has been started months ago as part of contingency plans should take into account the various possibilities, including the arrest or death of terrorist leader, said Brennan.

A senior U.S. Defense Department says no country is willing or able to take Bin Laden's corpse for a funeral.

According to Brennan, took the corpse to another country and try to arrange the funeral would have violated Islamic law requires burial within 24 hours.

"There are a number of specific steps that must be taken because of the nature of the operation," said Brennan. "We want to ensure that we are able to do so within the time period allocated to it. In our view, go to another country, make arrangements and requirements, would exceed that period."

According to Juan Campo, a professor of religious studies at the University of California at Santa Barbara, USA, who has studied in the Muslim world funeral, burial description seemed to indicate that U.S. forces are trying to follow the rules of Islamic funeral. However, Campo said, the question still remains related to these funerals. Campo said the law of Islam requires a Muslim funeral prayer should be recited during the ceremony. Statement of U.S. officials, said Campo, did not indicate whether people who speak Arabic at the ceremony was a Muslim.

In addition, the Islamic authorities usually also will provide power to bury the corpse in the sea when the cemetery on land no longer an option. Campo said he would like to know whom, if indeed there are people, who gave this authority.

In that briefing, Brennan said the U.S. government has been looking for a guide to the funeral. "We consult with appropriate specialists and experts, and there is unanimity that it would be the best way to handle (problems) that," he said.

U.S. officials also revealed that there are other concerns that if buried in the ground, the tomb of Bin Laden will become a place of pilgrimage. Although Campo said the practice was hated by Bin Laden, it is not impossible it will happen.