Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Muslims express sympathy for 'right to die' woman

The president of Italy's largest Muslim grouping, UCOII, Mohamed Nour Dachan, on Tuesday sent condolences over the death of a comatose woman at the centre of a euthanasia debate.

Eluana Englaro, 38, died late Monday after being in a vegetative state since she was injured in a car crash in 1992.

"I send my most heartfelt condolences, and am certain that these represent those of all Muslims in Italy at the death of Eluana Englaro," Dachan said in a statement.

Doctors at a nursing home in the northeastern city of Udine removed Englaro's feeding tube last Friday in accordance with a ruling from Italy's top court and her family's wishes.

"I send these to her family and all those who loved her and were close to her during these terrible years," the statement said. "May merciful God accept and forgive."

Debate about Englaro's 'right to die' has divided Italian public opinion and faced opposition from the conservative Berlusconi government and the Vatican.

The Italian parliament had been due on Tuesday and Wednesday to enact a bill outlawing the suspension of food to patients "unable to take care of themselves".

Englaro died before voting could take place.
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(Source: AKI)