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Ethical Approaches to Human Remains pp 485–501Cite as

Ethical Considerations of the Management of the Dead in the Middle East

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Abstract

Ethical considerations pertaining to the management of the dead in the Middle East are embodied by a number of misconceptions. Dealing with the dead is influenced and affected by either religion or culture. However, all ethical considerations, particularly in Islam, are built upon the principle that “the dignity of the dead is the same as for the living”. Managing human remains in a forensic science context is no exception. It is important for forensic scientists working in these countries to understand existing cultural practices. This requires an acknowledgement of the origin and evolution of contemporary beliefs. Therefore, this chapter discusses these ethical considerations and how working with the dead is influenced by religion and culture. The following research demonstrates that it is of paramount importance to understand the different religious beliefs, their accompanied funerary customs, and burial rites, specifically, when managing both the dead and the living. This chapter, in particular, focuses on Islamic funerary practices. Relevant to the latter is the ethical and legislative obligation regarding autopsy. Finally, the process of identification through the means of DNA and fingerprints is addressed, highlighting a need for further involvement of other practitioners, such as forensic anthropologists and forensic odontologists, in a number of scenarios.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Dentistry, King Saud University, Riyadh, 11545, Saudi Arabia

    Sakher AlQahtani

  2. Department of Applied Forensic Science, Mercyhurst University, Erie, PA, 16546, USA

    Joe Adserias-Garriga

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  1. Sakher AlQahtani
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  2. Joe Adserias-Garriga
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Correspondence to Sakher AlQahtani .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Law, Policing and Forensics, Staffordshire University, Science Centre, Stoke-on-Trent, UK

    Kirsty Squires

  2. Defence Academy of the United Kingdom, Cranfield Forensic Institute, Cranfield University, Shrivenham, UK

    David Errickson

  3. Defence Academy of the United Kingdom, Cranfield Forensic Institute, Cranfield University, Shrivenham, UK

    Nicholas Márquez-Grant

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AlQahtani, S., Adserias-Garriga, J. (2019). Ethical Considerations of the Management of the Dead in the Middle East. In: Squires, K., Errickson, D., Márquez-Grant, N. (eds) Ethical Approaches to Human Remains. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-32926-6_22

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