Family sues over body's desecration

The family of a Muslim woman whose corpse had bacon rashers placed over it as it lay in a mortuary will today return to the hospital as they launch a bid for compensation. Relatives of grandmother Habiba Mohammed were horrified at the desecration of her body at Hillingdon hospital hours after she died from cancer - the Koran forbids Muslims to eat or even touch pork.

Now they are to pursue hospital authorities for compensation.

Yusuf Mahamoud, 19, Mrs Mohammed's grandson, said: "Forget the religious aspect for a moment. Imagine that was your grandmother."

Mrs Mohammed, who arrived from Somalia in 1991, had seven children, 20 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Three men were arrested over the incident but no charges were brought against them.