Just ten days after uploading footage, Antônio was discovered dead under suspicious circumstances, with multiple gunshot wounds
A shocking case has emerged from Brazil involving a man who openly expressed anti-religious views on social media and was later found murdered. Antônio Rocha de Sousa, aged 47, recorded and published a provocative video of himself burning a Bible, an act that drew widespread attention and controversy.
Just ten days after uploading the footage, Antônio was discovered dead under suspicious circumstances, with multiple gunshot wounds.
In the now-infamous video, Antônio can be seen holding up a copy of the Bible before setting it on fire. As flames consumed the holy text, he is heard saying, “This here is a Bible, which they say is sacred. Look what it does when faced with fire. It burns.”
He continued with a forceful statement of disbelief, “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.”
The video drew immediate backlash on social media, particularly from religious communities who viewed the act as deeply offensive and blasphemous.
On Wednesday, May 14, Antônio was found dead, his body riddled with bullets. The exact circumstances of his death remain unclear, with conflicting reports regarding the location.
While some sources state he was gunned down in a public street in Tianguá, a town located west of Fortaleza in northeastern Brazil, others claim his lifeless body was found inside his home by locals who alerted the authorities.
Police confirmed they are treating the case as a homicide and have launched a full investigation. A spokesperson stated, “We are looking into all possibilities.”
This includes potential motives linked to the controversial video, as well as his prior criminal history.
Authorities noted that Antônio had a criminal past, including charges related to grievous bodily harm (GBH). He was also under investigation for a series of offenses including theft, property damage, and sacrilege, particularly tied to the Bible-burning incident.
Police suspect the Bible he destroyed may have been stolen, which led to the opening of a specific probe into theft and religious desecration on May 10.
Despite his incendiary video, Antônio’s social media accounts presented a complex and contradictory persona. In one of his last posts, he wrote, “Follower of Christ, (peacekeeper of Peace). Born again in (Christ), among the living, who were once dead…after having been tested, tried, and approved by God.”
This post appears to contrast sharply with his statements in the video, raising questions about his mental state or possible shifts in beliefs prior to his death.
This incident mirrors a similar case from Sweden earlier in the year, involving Salwan Momika, a 38-year-old Iraqi refugee. Momika gained notoriety in 2023 for publicly burning copies of the Quran in protest.
In January 2025, he too was shot and killed in his home in Södertälje, just outside Stockholm. His murder also sparked global debate over the consequences of provocative anti-religious acts.
The case of Antônio Rocha de Sousa touches on sensitive issues at the intersection of freedom of expression, religious tolerance, and violence.
While the right to personal belief or disbelief is a protected principle in many democratic societies, acts that target sacred symbols often incite strong reactions and can lead to real-world consequences.
As of now, no arrests have been made, and authorities in Brazil are continuing to investigate the motive behind Antônio’s death. Whether it was a retaliatory act tied to his video or connected to other aspects of his life, remains to be seen.