Senior Christian leader backs Jewish concerns over ‘cab rank’ burial policy
Rt Revd Rob Wickham criticised coroner Mary Hassell's controversial policy, in which she refuses to prioritise religious burials
A senior Christian leader has backed Jewish and Muslim calls for a London coroner to fast-track the release of bodies for quicker burial for religious reasons when able.
The intervention from the Bishop of Edmonton, Rt Revd Rob Wickham, came a day before judges determine the legality of policies from the office of Mary Hassell, a senior coroner for Inner North London.
Hassell angered Jewish and Muslim families – who prioritise speedy burials for religious reasons – after confirming her “cab-rank rule” for releasing bodies. Her policy is this week being challenged in the High Court in a judicial review.
Ahead of the hearing, however, the Bishop of Edmonton appealed to Hassell to act in accordance with religious sensitivities.
“The death of a loved one usually brings much grief and vulnerability for any family and community… At these moments it is of great comfort when people are able to observe specific mourning and burial rites in accordance with their religious beliefs,” he said.
“On behalf of the different faith communities in the very diverse north London, I would hope that [Hassell] would be respectful of such religious practices and freedoms which ultimately enable the whole community to grieve well.”
Board of Deputies’ vice-president Marie van der Zyl said Wickham’s was “an important intervention,” adding: “While the Senior Coroner for Inner North London seems determined to cause unnecessary upset to grieving families, people of different faiths are coming together to call for a different approach of compassion and common sense that respects religious freedom and religious diversity.”
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
