Aslan, an Iranian-born religious scholar, met with members of the Aghori sect in the holy Hindu city of Varanisi in India for his series which sees him immerse himself into faith-based groups across the world.
During filming, they reportedly smeared his face with human cremains and invited him to drink alcohol from a human skull.
After doing so, the 44-year-old presenter, with encouragement from members of the sect, is said to have eaten a piece of cooked human brain tissue.
When the presenter asked why locals were afraid of the group, he replied: “Should we eat the living? Shall I show you by eating my own flesh? Then call me an Aghori.”
The Aghori, with around 100 members, are a small and extreme sect of Hinduism.
The only Hindu member of Congress, Tulsi Gabbard, took to social media to express her disapproval of the episode of Aslan’s documentary series for “repeating false stereotypes” of Hinduism.
“I am very disturbed that CNN is using its power and influence to increase people’s misunderstanding and fear of Hinduism,” she tweeted.
“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 combatting tirelessly.”
She also slammed the programme for depicting a group of Hindus under the caption “CANNIBALS”, saying it “perpetuated bizarre and ugly impressions of Hindus and their religion”.
Indian-Americans across the country criticised the episode claiming it would create incorrect perceptions of the religion that could lead to hate crimes.
According to the Daily Mail, Sanjay Puri, chairman of the United States India Political Action Committee, said: “We are very disappointed. This is an issue that is of deep concern to the Indian-American community evidenced by the large numbers of calls/emails we have received.
“In a charged environment, a show like this can create a perception about Indian-Americans which could make them more vulnerable to further attacks.”
Yesterday, Aslan retweeted an article by the American Council on Science and Health – with the headline: “Why CNN’s Reza Aslan Shouldn’t Eat Human Brains,” captioning it: “You work all your life for a headline like this.”
Express.co.uk contacted a representative of the show for comment who, in turn, outlined Aslan’s lengthy Facebook post addressing the criticism.
In it, he wrote: “As someone who writes and speaks about religion for a living, I know better than most the sensitivities of the topic, and I have spent much of my career trying my best to address those sensitivities.
“In the case of the episode on the Aghor – which, as I repeatedly state on camera and in voice-over, are not representative of Hinduism but are instead an extreme Hindu sect who reject the fundamental Hindi distinction between purity and pollution – I tried to ease the concerns of those who may have missed this fundamental distinction by providing multiple articles on CNN.com that address the beliefs of Hinduism and debunk its myths.”
“What’s more, I had numerous meetings by phone and in person with representatives of the Hindu-American Foundation who, unlike a great many of those who were upset about the episode, actually watched it and, as a result, ended up writing a fair and measured response to the criticism on its web site, noting that while “the initial promotional materials and trailers on CNN include the titillating, with a banner headline “CANNIBALS” to a revolting scene of a Sadhu flinging urine…
“There is also a trailer that describes the spiritual significance of Aghori practice, core beliefs, and scenes of a tranquil school where children of all castes and creeds were being educated by practicing Hindus living the Hindu Aghori faith of loving, serving, and caring without discrimination”
Believer continues Sunday at 10pm ET on CNN.
Daily Express :: TV and Radio Feed
