The government of Eritrea has denied the widespread report that it mandated all men to marry a second wife.

The news report first surfaced on a Kenyan website and it later spread like wildfire after an alleged copy of the scanned decision of the Grand Mufti (Eritrean Parliament), leaked on social media.

The Grand Mufti was quoted to have said that the Eritrean government assured citizens that it would pay for the wedding ceremonies and those who were non-compliant would be jailed.

However, Eritrea’s Information Minister Yemane Gebremeskel confirmed on his Twitter page on Wednesday, that the viral story was indeed a hoax.

Media frenzy to parrot this ludicrous, fabricated & trite story of the Mufti's presumed religious decree on mandatory polygamy is appalling

— Yemane G. Meskel (@hawelti) January 27, 2016

The story illustrates vileness of z dark forces of disinformation
& proclivity of others to readily embrace z negative narrative on Eritrea

— Yemane G. Meskel (@hawelti) January 27, 2016

Meanwhile, the BBC reports that an Eritrean official revealed that everyone in the country is aware of the falseness of the story.

“Even a madman in [the Eritrean capital] Asmara would know that this story was not true,” he was quoted to have said.