Heartbreaking scenes Seema Banu’s devastated family gathered to watch funeral on projector in India

Burial service for Seema Banu and her children Asfira Riza (11) and Faizan Syed (6)

Neil Fetherstonhaugh

November 07 2020 05:34 PM

The devastated family of murdered Seema Banu watched her funeral on a projector in India as they were buried on Friday.

As the burial service took place at the Islamic Cultural Centre of Ireland in Clonskeagh, Dublin, Seema's relatives gathered to say goodbye to her in native Mysore district, in Karnataka state, in southwest India.

Seema and her children Asfira Riza (11) and Faizan Syed (6) were found dead in their Ballinteer home last Wednesday.

Speaking of the emotional moment, cousin Sufi Masood Hussain said she wanted to thank "each and every individual who helped and supported us through the toughest period for our family and for those who prayed for Seema and kids".

Seema Banu with her daughter Asfira Riza (11) and son Faizan Syed (6)

And while Seema’s family had hoped the bodies could be returned home for burial in India, they said they were happy with how authorities took care of proceedings on Friday.

Seema’s family had said that they did not want the burials to take place in Ireland and her parents were very upset that they weren’t able to do their last rights and fulfil their rightful duties as parents.

However, Seema’s husband, Sameer Sayed, had insisted that the funerals take place in Ireland and had final say as their next of kin.

The Indian Embassy then organised a live stream of the service so Seema’s family could watch as Imam Hussein Halawa said a number of prayers over the three coffins that lay side-by-side at the centre before their burial at Newcastle graveyard.

At the burial, Seema’s husband Sayed cried as he opened her coffin and the two small white coffins of their children to say goodbye before they were buried.

Seema’s coffin was lowered into the ground first followed by those of her children.

Gardai have launched a murder investigation following the discovery of Seema, her daughter Asfira Riza and son Faizan Syed who were found strangled to death in their home in Llewellyn Court.

Gardai said the children were murdered but have yet to formally confirm how Seema sustained her fatal injuries but are examining the possibility she was murdered.

The family, who are originally from India, moved to Ireland from Dubai earlier this year.

Shaykh Dr Umar Al-Qadri, the Head-Imam of the Islamic Centre of Ireland, was among the attendees at today’s funerals. "It’s such a tragic way to go and it’s a tragedy for all Ireland, not just the Muslim community," he told the Sunday World.

"For something like this to happen in Ireland is unheard of."