Fact Check: Hindus openly burned on fire in Bangladesh? No, video show prop from Halloween party in China

(Content Warning: This article reports graphic visuals, which some readers may find distressing. Reader discretion is advised.)

Amid ongoing unrest and allegations of Hindu persecution in Bangladesh, a disturbing video has surfaced on social media, allegedly showing humans being burned alive. The caption claims that atrocities against Hindus in Bangladesh have escalated to such an extent that they are being set on fire.

An X user shared the video and wrote, “All Hindus and every central and state government of India, open your eyes wide and take note. The atrocities against our Hindu brothers and sisters in Bangladesh have reached their peak. Share this as widely as possible so that the divided Hindus, preoccupied with caste, and the governments entangled in elections wake up from their slumber.” (Translated from Hindi) (Archive)

(Note: We have opted not to include the link to the post due to the graphic nature of its visuals and to avoid further amplification.)

Fact Check

NewsMeter found the claim to be false, as the video depicts human props being roasted during a Halloween party in China.

A reverse image search of the video’s keyframes led to an extended version posted on Instagram on October 31, 2018. The location was tagged as Hengqin, Guangdong, China. The video also features a man in a Halloween costume turning a roaster on fire. This confirms that the viral video is not recent.

We also found a Chinese report by Sin Chew dated January 14, 2020, which featured a screenshot from the video. According to the report, the video had previously been circulated with the false claim that a restaurant in Nigeria was openly roasting human flesh. However, an investigation revealed that the video was actually filmed during a Halloween party at Chimelong Ocean Kingdom Theme Park in Zhuhai, China, in October 2018.

Additionally, we found a video blog on a YouTube channel published on October 27, 2018, titled “Halloween Party at Chimelong Ocean Park | Zhuhai, China.” The blog provides a tour of the Halloween party at Chimelong Ocean Park, showcasing visitors in Halloween costumes, along with decorations such as skeletons, skulls, and chopped human limbs. At the 5:26 timestamp, visuals resembling the viral clip of a human prop being roasted can be seen.

Chimelong Ocean Kingdom, a theme park located in Zhuhai, China, is known for hosting elaborate themed events. We found several visitor-uploaded photos on Google Maps and Facebook that match the decorations featured in the viral video.

Therefore, we conclude that the claim that the video shows Hindus being burned alive in Bangladesh is false.