What Happened To Osama Bin Laden's Body?

Before the attack that killed Osama bin Laden on May 2, 2011, American officials were aware that the man's body could cause problems. The option of capturing bin Laden alive was always available, counterterrorism expert John Brennan later told the Salt Lake Tribune that authorities at the scene were prepared to take bin Laden under surveillance. But the mastermind behind 9/11 has long been sought, and if he is killed, his remains would raise political and religious questions.

For example, Islamic law requires that the body be buried as soon as possible, usually within 24 hours, and that the body be washed and wrapped in cloth. Failure to comply with religious commandments could lead to calls for revenge, but each of Osama bin Laden's graves could also serve as a shrine for his followers. Then there is the problem of evidence. Until the attack, US officials had no definitive evidence that bin Laden was at his compound in Pakistan.

If he had been there and killed, the Obama administration would have had to decide whether to provide evidence that bin Laden was dead. Doing so could be seen as suspicious and could lead to another campaign calling for more violence. However, failure to disclose any evidence could lead to controversy.

All these questions lingered until May 2, when SEAL Team Six entered the facility and shot bin Laden in the head. His wife's statement and DNA testing confirmed it was him. Plans began for his controversial burial and he was eventually buried at sea. Initial reports after the death and burial of Osama bin Laden indicated that the United States was trying to bury him in a nearby country. Several reports said Saudi Arabia, his country of birth, was approached, only to deny the request.

But Ambassador Akbar Ahmed, a former Pakistani high commissioner, told History that he doubted such rumors, and counterterrorism advisor John Brennan claimed that the Islamic custom of burial within 24 hours of death left the United States with no time to negotiate with other governments (via The New York Times). Whether they approached any countries about receiving Bin Laden's remains or not, U.S. officials ultimately chose to bury his body at sea. Islamic burial traditions were still observed. Emails later obtained by the Associated Press (via Al Jazeera) confirmed that the body was washed and covered in a white sheet, and that a translator interpreted delivered rites into Arabic.

The body was crushed by the USS Carl Vinson and slid into the sea. Burial at sea is not prohibited in Islam, but it often occurs if the deceased dies at sea. Clerics and scientists are divided on whether bin Laden should be buried this way. One even told the Seattle Times that it was an insult to Islam, while another said the body should be returned to his family. They believe that unless a family member wants the body, a grave underground would be more appropriate. Others, including Ahmed, allowed that the sea burial effectively removed the shrine issue.