Family requests for return of Fadi’s body

KUALA LUMPUR: The family of Palestinian lecturer and imam Dr Fadi Mohammed Al Batsh who was shot dead in Setapak on Saturday, has appealed for his body to be brought back to his home country for burial.

International Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation ( IESCO) general manager Dr Mahmoud Shakfa said the victim’s family had made the request so that family members could pay their last respects, as they had not seen him in seven years.

“Dr Fadi’s father had called us to request for his body to be brought home to his birthplace in Jabalia, Gaza. All his family members, especially his mother and siblings, want to look at his face for the last time.

“Efforts are being made through the cooperation between the embassies of Palestine, Egypt and Malaysia for the logistics to bring the body to Gaza,” he told reporters at the Selayang Hospital here yesterday.

The body is currently at the hospital for post-mortem.

Meanwhile, Universiti Kuala Lumpur British Malaysian Institute ( UniKL BMI) has offered to manage Dr Fadi’s funeral arrangements in Malaysia, if required.

UNIKL BMI Dean Assoc Prof Dr Mohd Izhar Abu Bakar when met at the hospital said, however, the university would respect the decision of Dr Fadi’s family to bring his body home.

According to him, Fadi’s brother is expected to arrive in Malaysia from Germany Sunday afternoon, and the latter would decide on the location of the burial.

“We are ready for any decision on Fadi’s burial location, and are ready to assist,” he said.

In the 6am incident on Saturday, Fadi was shot to death as he was walking to a surau near a condominium in Jalan Meranti, Setapak, to perform morning prayers. — Bernama