A social media post claiming to show the demolition of a shrine in Libya has been shared widely, garnering over 1.4 million views and 1.2 thousand comments. The post, first shared on April 14, 2025, by a user on platform X, features a video of a building being demolished. The claim was also shared on several other pages, fueling speculation and misinformation.
However, an investigation by Annir has revealed that the video is actually of a landmark in Indonesia, not Libya. The video shows the demolition of the "Hibiscus Fantasy" park in Indonesia's Java province. A report by Indonesian news station Kompas, published on March 7, 2025, on their official YouTube channel, features footage of the same building and confirms that it was demolished by the Bogor district government.
According to Kompas, the demolition was part of a larger effort to raze dozens of permanent buildings in the area. The Indonesian government's decision to demolish the park was made in response to flooding in the capital city in early March 2025. The park had been built on a larger area than permitted, with authorities citing environmental concerns and non-compliance with permits.
Further investigation by Annir led to a CNN Indonesia report published on March 11, 2025, which provided more context on the demolition. The report stated that the park's original planned area was 4,800 square meters but it had been constructed on a 15,000 square meter plot. The government's actions were taken as a precautionary measure to prevent further environmental damage.
The official Instagram page of the "hibiscfantasy" park also features images of the same building, confirming that it is indeed the location shown in the viral video. This new information contradicts the claims made in the social media post that the video was of a shrine in Libya.
This incident comes amid statements by Libyan Interior Minister about implementing strict measures to enforce Islamic law in Libya. Annir has classified the claim as misleading, emphasizing the importance of verifying information before sharing it online.
The spread of misinformation highlights the need for fact-checking and critical evaluation of online content. Annir's investigation serves as a reminder to be cautious when sharing information and to verify the accuracy of claims before disseminating them.
Key points
- The video is actually of a demolished building in Indonesia's Java province, not Libya.
- The demolition was part of a government effort to address environmental concerns and non-compliance with permits.
- The incident highlights the importance of verifying information before sharing it online to prevent the spread of misinformation.
