A man who filmed himself burning a Bible and subsequently uploaded the footage online has been discovered shot dead in Brazil. Antônio Rocha de Sousa's body, riddled with bullet wounds, was found on Wednesday, May 14. Police are treating his death as a homicide, and investigations are ongoing with no arrests made yet.

Just ten days prior to his demise, Antônio, 47, posted a video depicting him setting the holy book ablaze. In the clip, he ignited the Bible with a lighter, remarking, "This here is a Bible, which they say is sacred. Look what it does when faced with fire. It burns." He continued, expressing his atheistic views: "To me, God doesn't exist. This is just a way to enslave and manipulate people. If you haven't woken up yet, it's time to wake up. Look what this 'sacred' thing does in the face of fire. It's time to wake up – God doesn't exist."

Authorities confirmed Antônio was gunned down on a street in Tianguá, west of Fortaleza. However, other reports suggest locals discovered his corpse at his home, where he lived alone, and alerted the police. A police spokesperson stated they are "looking into all possibilities," including potential links to the video or Antônio's prior legal issues.

Reports indicate Antônio had a history of causing intentional harm, including previous charges for grievous bodily harm (GBH). Police also suspect the burnt Bible was stolen and had initiated a theft, damage, and sacrilege probe on May 10. His public social media accounts frequently featured rants and opinions. Interestingly, his last social media post read: "Follower of Christ, (peacekeeper of Peace). Born again in (Christ), among the living, who were once de@d...after having been tested, tried, and approved by God."

This case bears a chilling resemblance to that of Salwan Momika, an Iraqi refugee known for burning Qurans in Sweden, who was found shot dead in his home in Södertälje, outside Stockholm, in January of this year. These incidents highlight the severe and often tragic consequences faced by individuals engaging in public acts of religious desecration.

Source: https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/man-who-filmed-himself-setting-35257443