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TV Presenter Eats Human Brain Documenting Hindu Religion, Receives Backlash

10 Mar, 2017 18:59 IST
Reza Aslan(right) eating human brain

Reza Aslan, a CNN presenter, received backlash for portraying Hinduism in a bad light after he was filmed eating a human brain on his show "Believer with Reza Aslan".

The 44-year-old Iranian scholar met the Hindu cannibal sect 'Aghoris' at Varanasi. He took part in the rituals, having his face smeared with ashes burnt from dead person.

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Aslan was then given an alcohol to drink from a human skull before he was presented human brain to eat.

"Want to know what a dead guy's brain tastes like? Charcoal. It was burnt to a crisp!" Aslan posted on his Facebook.

However, the episode has sparked outrage among Hindu-Americans. And Indian-American politician Tulsi Gabbard expressed concern and vented out her anger through a tweet.

"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," another tweet of hers.

Azsan with Hindu sect

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