Though the Colorado Muslim Society of Denver denied reports Monday night that it will be providing burial services for the Boston bombing suspect, its founder has reportedly offered to pay for a traditional Muslim burial in Denver or Bennett.
Sheikh Abu-Omar Almubarac told The Associated Press that he would not say at which Muslim cemetery because of "undue publicity," but says he'll arrange to bury Tamerlan Tsarnaev if his family can get his body to Denver.
The Colorado Muslim Society of Denver however has been trying to distance itself from Almubarac's offer.
"It has recently been reported that the Colorado Muslim Society has offered to provide burial services for Tamerlan Tsarnaev, one of the individuals who perpetrated the grave and destructive bombings at the 2013 Boston Marathon. This report is absolutely untrue," the society's board of directors said in a statement issued Monday. "The individual who has reportedly made this offer does not speak on behalf of the Colorado Muslim Society.
"The Colorado Muslim Society strongly condemns all acts of violence and grieves with all of America after the attacks in Boston. The conduct of Tamerlan Tsarnaev is abhorrent and contrary to every principle and belief that underlies the purpose of the Colorado Muslim Society."
Almubarac incorporated the Colorado Muslim Society in the 1960's and the organization later built the mosque on Parker Road in Denver.
In recent days reports have surfaced that Worcester funeral home director Peter Stefan has been having a difficult time locating a burial plot for Tsarnaev. Even though Stefan says over 100 people in the U.S. and Canada have offered burial plots for Tsarnaev's body, officials in those towns have reportedly said no.
"It's not only Massachusetts that doesn't want him," Stefan said. "Nobody wants him."
Controversial and notorious figures often stir up debate about where to be laid to rest, an Associated Press report reveals.
In the instance of the Columbine High School shooters, Dylan Klebold was cremated while Eric Harris' final resting place has never publicly been revealed.
Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh had his ashes scattered at a secret location.
Thus far Tsarnaev's body has lain in the funeral home for five days as of Tuesday.
According to the Muslim Burial Council, an organization in the United Kingdom, burial in the Islamic tradition is ideally arranged as quickly as possible -- sometimes within 24 hours of the person's death.
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