Several publications circulate on social networks in which candles can be seen with the image of the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, as if he were a saint and with the Ukrainian flag hanging on one of his shoulders, and it is suggested that the photograph was captured in Fatima.

Contacted by the Observer, the communication office of the Sanctuary of Fatima assured that “these candles are not and were not for sale in the official stores of the Sanctuary of Fatima.” The answer denies the statement that has been shared on social networks.

Analyzing the content of the publication, contrary to what is alleged in content such as the one analyzed here, nothing in the image shared by several users of social networks confirms that it is, in fact, the Sanctuary of Fatima and that these candles were being sold on national territory as a tribute to the hallowed head of the Ukrainian state.

In fact, a search of the image reveals that this photograph has already been shared on several websites in there is no reference to Portugal and/or the Sanctuary of Fatima. In one of them the exact same image is published and it is written “somewhere in Great Britain”, which suggests that these candles are also being sold in the country. In addition, in the photograph you can see a card written in English.

There is also another relevant reference in the image: the card placed in front of the candles refers to the fact that all the income obtained from the sale of these goods reverts to a specific institution: Global Responde Management (GRM). GRM is a US-based non-governmental organization (NGO) run by ex-military personnel that provides medical assistance to people in countries affected by war, social conflict or natural disaster.

The NGO’s website does not mention the sale of candles with the face of Volodymyr Zelensky as a way to raise funds for its work. That reference exists, yes, in another North American site, Illuminidol, which presents itself as a local company in the city of Austin, in the state of Texas, and which is dedicated to producing the same type of product with the faces of public figures. .from the most diverse fields —singers, musicians, actors, politicians, businessmen— inserted in a biblical context or with a certain symbolic load. The artist Snoop Dogg, for example, appears associated with the image of Johannes Vermeer’s painting “Girl with a Pearl Earring”. Each unit has the course of 15 dollars.

Examples of candles for sale on the Illuminidol website

Among the dozens of candles available is also the copy with the sanctified face of Volodymyr Zelensky.

Image of the candle with the face of Volodymyr Zelensky printed for sale on the same website

It was not possible to prove the existence of any place Portuguese with these or other candles.

conclusion

The Sanctuary of Fatima assures that the candles with the image of Volodymyr Zelensky were never for sale in any official store. In addition to the sanctuary’s response, a study of the image shows that the candles appear in various websites not Portuguese and there are even references to products sold in the United States, for example. As such, it is not possible to say that the candles were for sale at Fatima, because there is nothing in the image to prove it and even the card seen in the photograph is written in English.

Thus, according to the Observer classification system, this content is:

WRONG

In the Facebook rating system, this content is:

FAKE: The main content claims are factually inaccurate. This option typically matches “false” or “mostly false” ratings on fact-checking websites.

Note: This content was selected by The Observer as part of a fact-checking partnership with Facebook.