Truth or Fake – A video of forced conversions to Islam by Boko Haram? – The France 24 Observers

Issued on: 19/05/2021 - 18:57

In the context of new attacks in Nigeria perpetrated by Boko Haram in central Nigeria since mid-April, a video allegdlegly showing forced conversions to Islam was posted by a Nigerian former minister. Viewed more than 100,000 times, the France 24 Observers found that the caption was entirely false.

In the video, a large crowd is watching a few people pointing their finger to the sky, filmed from a wooden podium. Thanks to clues such as the language spoken, the type of building, clothing, but most importantly comments from the author on TikTok, we were able to pinpoint the location of this scene in Kolia, Ivory Coast.

As to the content of the video, it has nothing to do with forced conversions but rather an exorcism of jinn, a supernatural creature comparable to a demon.

Imam Hamidou Berth, based near Abidjan, said: "They are in a trance. They utter words that are sometimes incoherent. Sometimes they sound like revelations. The lady who performs the deliverance recites prayers. And then at times she recites verses from the Koran.

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Truth or Fake - A video of forced conversions to Islam by Boko Haram? - The France 24 Observers