CNN Slammed For Calling Varanasi The ‘City of The Dead’

CNN’s ‘Believer With Reza Aslan’ has gotten off to a rocky start, to say the least.

Television channel CNN’s new series, ‘Believer With Reza Aslan,’ premiered on Sunday.

According to the CNN website, the show is a six-part “spiritual adventure series” which will follow “renowned author and religious scholar Reza Aslan” as he “immerses himself in the world’s most fascinating faith-based groups to experience life as a true believer”.

However, ‘Believer’ has already offended many.

It's known as the city of the dead. @rezaaslan takes you inside on the new CNN series #Believer. Starts Sunday at 10p ET. @CNNOriginals pic.twitter.com/x8RMufn8lq

— CNN (@CNN) March 4, 2017

The trailer of the series drew criticism on Twitter, after it referred to Varanasi as “the city of the dead”.

“Anything But Dead”

Authors, politicians, and historians reacted sharply to CNN’s tweet. While many were quick to call out CNN’s branding of the city, others demanded that the channel and Aslan issue apologies.

Varanasi is anything but the city of dead.
It is the oldest 'living' city, literally & spiritually. u deserve more of Trump@CNN @rezaaslan

— shilpi tewari (@shilpitewari) March 4, 2017

.@CNN @rezaaslan @CNNOriginals Your new serial is heavily Hinduphobic. Ashes are immersed, not "dumped".

— Rajiv Malhotra (@RajivMessage) March 4, 2017

We Indians do not call Kashi the City of the Dead. It's the City of Light. Perhaps you guys should do some actual research @cnn & @rezaaslan https://t.co/yel6dtgrfv

— Amish Tripathi (@authoramish) March 5, 2017

It's the city of eternal life, not the city of dead. No matter what, the West will never really get the East. You just proceed it @cnn. https://t.co/FfiRmXXpP3

— Yashwant Deshmukh (@YRDeshmukh) March 4, 2017

Varanasi is the City of Lights. There would've been outrage if @CNN had presented such an ignorant show about Islam @rezaaslan @CNNOriginals

— Sankrant Sanu सानु (@sankrant) March 4, 2017

@CNN @rezaaslan Varanasi is known for Spirituality and place of Jyotirling Kashi Vishwanath and Sankat Mochan. Think beyond your religion.

— Abhishek Mishra (@Abhishek_Mshra) March 5, 2017

. @CNN @rezaaslan a little bit of research wouldn't have hurt you. Kashi is not known, at least by Indians, as the City of the Dead.

— Deepika (@ahlade) March 5, 2017

@CNN @rezaaslan @CNNOriginals For Hindus death is not d end of everything but d beginning of a new journey...Varanasi is "The city of life"

— susmita chakraborty (@sush091979) March 5, 2017

Reza Aslan was also trolled after he claimed that his CNN team was “the first TV crew to be allowed to film from inside the burning ghats of Varanasi”.

1st TV crew? Please share what you're smoking, Reza. https://t.co/1pMSRqeAG5

— Shiv Aroor (@ShivAroor) March 5, 2017

Biggest lie ever by news trader @rezaaslan @CNNOriginals @CNN . 1st TV crew?😂😂😂 ROFL.. heights of fake news https://t.co/BZtF38f9J7.

— NayaN (@nayanchandra) March 5, 2017

@rezaaslan lies.. many journos crew hve entered there. 2nd of all city of dead? Freaking insane?It is oldest living city. Ugh @CNNOriginals

— Maya (@Sharanyashettyy) March 4, 2017

Aslan also responded to allegations that the series was “Hinduphobic”. He tweeted:

Unlike you Hindu-American Foundation actually watched the episode and disagrees that it is "Hinduphobic" but go on: https://t.co/8b4Bgl4gzr https://t.co/TnWSyunAv1

— Reza Aslan (@rezaaslan) March 5, 2017