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PeakMetrics / Fact Checks

Religion & belief fact checks

Explore claims publishers have checked about religion & belief. Read their original ratings and follow the evidence.

3,371 published reviews in this topic

AnnirReligion & belief

"#مكة_الان مباشر تحت زخات المطر والثلج🌧️ المعتمرون يطوفون حول الكعبة..

Publisher’s rating: زائف

The post claimed that worshippers performing tawaf around the Kaaba were doing so amid rain and snow. The review says it first identified the post on Facebook, where it was published on January 1, 2023, and reports that the post described the scene as happening in Mecca. The investigation focused on whether the circulating video showed actual snowfall at the Grand Mosque, rather than whether rain was present. To check the snow claim, the review says it examined statements from Saudi Arabia’s National Center of Meteorology. The center’s official account had retweeted spokesperson Hussein Al-Qahtani, who said the circulating video of snowfall at the Grand Mosque was not genuine and had been processed with added effects. The review also reports that Saudi newspaper Al-Watan and the Mecca Region Emirate made the same point on Twitter. As further checks, the review says it consulted the National Center of Meteorology’s published weather conditions for Mecca and found no forecast indicating snowfall. It also notes that apps such as Snapchat and TikTok offer filters that can add snow effects to images and videos. Taken together, the cited official statement, the reported corroboration, and the weather check support the review’s conclusion that the snow depicted in the video was added rather than real; the excerpt does not establish whether the scene included rain.

Factcrescendo Sri LankaReligion & belief

Did Father Jeevantha Peiris Make A Statement On Any Black Vesak Celebration During The ‘Aragalaya’?

Publisher’s rating: False

The claim concerned a viral statement attributed to Father Amila Jeevantha Peiris, who had participated in the Gotagogama (GGG) protest. The post said that a black Vesak had been celebrated during the protests in May 2022, but that a black Christmas was unnecessary. It circulated with a photograph of Peiris and an image of a disfigured Buddha. The review’s conclusion was that Peiris had not made a statement about a black Vesak at the protest ground. [S1: “A statement attributed to Father Amila Jeevantha Peiris, who actively contributed to the Gotagogama (GGG) Protest, was viral among Facebook users.”; “It was claimed that Fr. Jeewantha said that even though a black ‘Vesak’ was celebrated during the GGG protests in May 2022, such was not required for this Christmas.”; “Conclusion: Our investigation shows that social media posts attributed to Father Jeevantha Peiris were false and that he had not made any statement related to black ‘Vesak’ at the protest ground.”] The review reports checking for the statement in mainstream media and finding no attribution to Peiris there. It also says the investigators contacted him; he rejected the claim and described it as deliberately created to spread falsehoods and discredit the protests. The review further notes that an official Christmas statement by Peiris did not refer to a black Vesak. These checks support the finding that the viral wording was falsely attributed to him; the excerpt does not provide the full statement or identify the particular media streams searched. [S1: “Yet, no such statement was attributed to Fr. Jeevantha on any official mainstream media streams.”; “We contacted Father Amila Jevantha Peiris on these social media statements. Fr. Jeevantha rejected the viral claims and stated they had been deliberately created to spread falsehoods and discredit protests.”; “Here is the official statement Fr. Jeevantha made on Christmas, which did not include any reference to a black Vesak either.”]

FACTLYReligion & belief

Image shows a person who died while performing Namaz in Medina.

Publisher’s rating: MISLEADING

The claim concerns a photo of a person prostrating and covered with a cloth, said to show someone who died while praying in Medina. FACTLY’s account identifies the scene as an incident at Masjid Nabawi, the Prophet’s Mosque, on 18 March 2022. It says the unidentified man fell unconscious during Friday prayers, rather than dying while performing Namaz. The review reports that the man was covered with a prayer rug and evacuated by ambulance. According to the account, the Medina Red Crescent Authority spokesman said the ambulance team stationed at the mosque declared him alive and transferred him to a local hospital for further treatment. These details directly distinguish a medical emergency involving a living person from the death asserted in the post. FACTLY also says the mosque’s official Twitter account initially shared the photo while mistakenly treating the man as dead, then apologized and clarified that he had fainted and was in good condition. The review’s conclusion is that the image shows a man who fainted while praying, not a man who died during prayer.

FACTLYReligion & belief

Sunni Waqf Board has claimed its right over the wealth of ‘Shirdi Sai Sansthan’.

Publisher’s rating: FALSE

The claim concerned a social-media post alleging that the Sunni Waqf Board had asserted a right over the wealth of Shirdi Sai Sansthan. FACTLY reported that it found no credible news reports supporting the allegation. It also checked the trust’s own materials, which describe the Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust as the governing and administrative body for the Samadhi Temple and the other temples on the premises. The review’s key evidence came from direct inquiries: officials of the Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust told FACTLY there was no truth in the claim. FACTLY also reported that, when a similar claim circulated in 2021, Sunni Waqf Board officials told Vishwas News that the post was fake. The review therefore found no substantiation for the allegation and reported denials from officials connected to both the trust and the board. FACTLY noted that it had separately contacted officials at the Maharashtra State Board of Waqfs and would update the article if it received a response. The article’s update dated 17 December 2022 says an official from that board also confirmed the claim was fake. Its conclusion is specific: it says the board had not claimed the entire wealth of Shirdi Sai Sansthan.

FACTLYReligion & belief

Picture showing Lord Hanuman flying in the sky

Publisher’s rating: FALSE

The post presents a picture as showing Lord Hanuman alive and flying in the sky. FACTLY’s review identifies the picture as an image of a drone-strapped 3D Hanuman idol, not a real figure in flight. It reports that the idol was flown as part of a television-show promotion in 2015, and concludes that the image does not substantiate the post’s claim. (S1: “A photo is being shared on social media claiming that Lord Hanuman was still alive and was spotted flying in the sky by people.”; “The photo shared in the post shows a drone-strapped 3D idol of Hanuman that was hovered over nine cities as part of a television show promotion in 2015.”; “The video does not show a real Hanuman flying in the sky.”) The review describes two checks. A reverse image search found the same picture used as a YouTube video thumbnail; the review says that video contains no visuals of Hanuman flying. It also notes that the picture itself shows a drone-like structure attached to the idol. The review then searched for further sources and found a 2015 video showing a drone-strapped Hanuman idol in flight. Taken together, these details identify the image as a promotional drone display rather than evidence of a real Hanuman flying. (S1: “On reverse image search of the photo shared in the post, the same picture is found as a thumbnail image to a YouTube video”; “in the video, there are no visuals of Hanuman flying in the sky.”; “one could see a drone-like structure attached to the top of the hanuman idol.”; “This video shows a drone-strapped Hanuman idol flying in the sky.”)