Calling it 'unfortunate', Bollywood actress and former Miss World Priyanka Chopra hit out against St John's Church at Attamangalam in Kumarakom for denying a burial to her grandmother Mary John Akhouri, who passed away recently.
Also read: Church denies Priyanka's 'Hindu' grandmom a grave
"The act of church was unfortunate. But we should not concentrate on it. Rather we should look that we lost a family member," Priyanka said while responding to questions on the episode.
Also read: Priyanka Chopra bids teary goodbye to grandmother in Kerala
Akhouri, who passed away on June 3, had expressed her desire to be buried at the same church where she was baptised. Though the church had initially agreed to the request for allowing the burial of the deceased, it later backtracked and denied permission by saying that Akhouri had married a Hindu and lived a non-Christian, relatives complained.
However, family members say Akhouri did not stop going to church after marriage and had taken communion at St John's Attamangalam church two years back.
Having denied the burial at Kumarakom, the family later performed the final rites at St Thomas Jacobite Church at Ponkunnam. Akhouri was a social activist and former legislator.
