Close X
Wednesday, November 27, 2024
ADVT 
International

'Hinduphobic' CNN Presenter Reza Aslan Eats Human Brain Live On Camera, Sparks Backlash

Darpan News Desk IANS, 10 Mar, 2017 01:01 PM
    CNN television presenter Reza Aslan has caused shock and consternation across the board by eating a human brain on camera while filming with an obscure Hindu sect. Members of the religion's mainstream have widely condemned the act.
     
    The host of "Believer with Reza Aslan" was in India to meet with ascetic members of the Aghori sect. The six-episode "spiritual adventures series", was premiered last week. 
     
    The show explores the facts and myths behind the Aghori, a mystical Hindu sect known for extreme rituals. 
     
    Aslan also drank from a human skull and was pelted with faeces by a guru.
     
    The footage prompted a backlash from critics who accused him of painting a false and extreme picture of Hinduism, with America's only Hindu Member of Congress Tulsi Gabbard tweeting: "I am very disturbed that CNN is using its power and influence to increase people's misunderstanding and fear of Hinduism."
     
    "Aslan apparently sought to find sensationalist and absurd ways to portray Hinduism. Aslan and CNN didn't just throw a harsh light on a sect of wandering ascetics to create shocking visuals -- as if touring a zoo -- but repeated false stereotypes about caste, karma and reincarnation that Hindus have been combating tirelessly," she added.
     
    "CNN promotional materials and trailers that included a scene showing a group of Hindus under a caption "CANNIBALS", perpetuated bizarre and ugly impressions of Hindus and their religion," Gabbard said.
     
    Aslan met the Aghori group in Varanasi after which they smeared the ashes from burnt bodies on his face.
     
     
    The 44-year-old Iranian scholar was then asked to drink alcohol from a skull, before being presented with human meat to eat, the Independent reported on Friday.
     
    After the shoot, Aslan shared a post on Facebook. "Want to know what a dead guy's brain tastes like? Charcoal. It was burnt to a crisp!" he wrote.
     
    The Aghori were described as "cannibals" by CNN when promoting the documentary, though they only eat the flesh of people who have died of natural causes.
     
    Eminent Indian-American Shalabh Kumar, a top supporter of the US President Donald Trump had earlier slammed the show and said, "this is a disgusting attack on Hinduism."
     
    In a tweet, Kumar said, "Hinduism has been attacked because a large number of Hindu Americans supported Trump during the election campaign."
     
    "I condemn @rezaaslan, CNN for airing Believer with fiction. Disgusting attack on Hindus for supporting @POTUS @stephenkbannon @newtgingrich," Kumar, also the founder of Republican Hindu Coalition, said in a tweet.
     
     
    CNN's "Believer with Reza Aslan" show promotes xenophobia and Hinduphobia, alleged Ajay Shah of American Hindus Against Defamation.

    MORE International ARTICLES

    Tanveer Hussain, Snowshoe Athlete From Kashmir, Held In US For 'Sexually Abusing' Minor Girl

    Tanveer Hussain, Snowshoe Athlete From Kashmir, Held In US For 'Sexually Abusing' Minor Girl
    Tanveer Hussain arrived in the small village of Saranac Lake in New York state for the World Snowshoe Championships.

    Tanveer Hussain, Snowshoe Athlete From Kashmir, Held In US For 'Sexually Abusing' Minor Girl

    7 Indian-American Students Nominated For Truman Scholarship

    7 Indian-American Students Nominated For Truman Scholarship
    Seven Indian-American students have been nominated for the prestigious Harry S. Truman Scholarship, which is given to college juniors for demonstrating leadership potential and a commitment to public service.

    7 Indian-American Students Nominated For Truman Scholarship

    Indian American Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi Urges Sessions To Combat Hate Crimes

    Indian American Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi Urges Sessions To Combat Hate Crimes
    Indian American Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi has urged US Attorney General Jeff Sessions to take immediate action to stop rising hate crimes in the US.

    Indian American Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi Urges Sessions To Combat Hate Crimes

    First Drone Strike Under Trump Kills 2 Taliban Leaders In Pak

    First Drone Strike Under Trump Kills 2 Taliban Leaders In Pak
    Two Afghan Taliban commanders were killed on Thursday in a US drone strike in Pakistan’s restive northwest tribal region, the first such attack after Donald Trump assumed Presidency.

    First Drone Strike Under Trump Kills 2 Taliban Leaders In Pak

    Uighur Islamic State Fighters Vow Blood Will 'Flow In Rivers' In China

    Uighur Islamic State Fighters Vow Blood Will 'Flow In Rivers' In China
    Vowing to plant their flag in China and that blood will “flow in rivers”, a video released this week purportedly by the Islamic State group shows ethnic Uighur fighters training in Iraq, underscoring what Beijing sees as a serious threat.

    Uighur Islamic State Fighters Vow Blood Will 'Flow In Rivers' In China

    ISIS Chief Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi Acknowledges Defeat In Iraq In Farewell Speech

    ISIS Chief Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi Acknowledges Defeat In Iraq In Farewell Speech
    The ISIS chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi has acknowledged the group's defeat in Iraq in a 'farewell speech' and ordered his non-Arab fighters to either return to their countries or detonate themselves, according to media reports.

    ISIS Chief Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi Acknowledges Defeat In Iraq In Farewell Speech