KUALA LUMPUR: The family of Palestine lecturer, Dr Fadi M R Albatsh, who was assassinated Saturday morning, is requesting to have him buried in his home country.
International Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (IESCO) general manager Dr Mahmoud Shakfa, said Dr Fadi’s father has appealed to have his remains sent back to Gaza. The father has not seen his son for the past seven years.
“His father contacted us and expressed his hope to bury him in his hometown, Jabalia.
“His family members – father, mother, and siblings have not seen him for the past seven years.
“Upon the family members’ request, the embassies of Palestine and Egypt in Malaysia is arranging and coordinating to facilitate the procedure, it may take two to three days,” he said when met at Selayang Hospital mortuary Sunday.
Meanwhile, Humanitarian Care Malaysia (MyCARE) board of trustee, Dr Mohd Sin Kandar, said for the humanitarian sake, Egypt government must cooperate to allow the body enter its border to get back to Gaza.
“Don’t deny the right of the family members to see Fadi for the last time,” he said, adding that normal practices will see the body flown to Cairo, Egypt, after which it will take about four hours to the Rafah border crossing.
A post-mortem is currently being conducted.
Dr Fadi was expected to be laid to rest this afternoon at the Batu Muda Muslim Cemetery after the post-mortem.
The plan is now put on hold as family members await the arrival of Dr Fadi’s brother from Germany.
Family members and friends were seen to have gathered at the mortuary as early as 7.30am.
It was reported that Dr Fadi was gunned down in front of the Idaman Puteri condominium in Setapak early Saturday morning. It is understood that he was walking to Surau Medan Idaman to lead subuh prayers.
Two gunmen were said to have waited for him on their motorcycle. When the assassins spotted him, they fired 10 shots at the 35-year-old victim.
Dr Fadi leaves behind his wife and three children, aged six, four and one.