Brazil is denounced for religious intolerance

Representatives of African-born religions presented last Monday, 30, a petition in the São Paulo City Council denouncing Brazil in the Inter-American Court of Human Rights for the growing number of cases of religious intolerance.

The event mobilized hundreds of priests and supporters in the Noble Hall of the Legislative House to bring society's attention to the problem and increase adherence to the movement, according to the Chamber's advice.

According to data from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) released in early 2017, Brazil had almost 700 reports of religious intolerance between the years 2011 and 2015. Of this total, 71.15% of the cases were against African religions -Brazilians. Rio de Janeiro is the state that leads in number the aggressions, followed by Minas Gerais and São Paulo.

According to the Secretariat for Human Rights and Policies for Women and Seniors in Rio (SEDHMI), from July to early October 2017, there were 41 cases of religious intolerance in the state. The region of Baixada Fluminense was responsible for about 30% of the denunciations received, while traffickers were responsible for 10% of cases of intolerance, forcing priests to destroy their own terreiros.

In this regard, Sputnik Brasil spoke exclusively with lawyer Hédio Silva Júnior, former secretary of Justice of São Paulo and one of the leaders of this movement against religious intolerance in the country. According to him, although more evident in the Southeast region, this is a phenomenon that spreads throughout the country.

"This is a result of the discourse of religious hatred, the use of television and radio, which are concessions of public services, for the propagation of hatred, discrimination and religious intolerance.This trafficker who goes there and enters is a mere performer" , said the lawyer.

Hédio explains that the problem in relation to this issue is not the lack of legal framework, since there is a set of laws in Brazil made to curb this type of attitude.

"The Constitution itself dictates that the purpose of the media - hence radio and TV - must be educational and affirming social values.

The National Security Law provides that it is a crime to condone religious hatred. The Racial Equality Statute provides that it is the obligation of the public power to prevent the spread of religious hatred. The Penal Code, in short, a series of laws prescribe sentences, including high penalties for the use of radio and TV for the propagation of religious hatred, "explained the expert, noting that one of the arguments being brought to court refers to the Brazilian authorities in the face of this growing problem.

An eventual conviction of the Inter-American Court would have full validity in Brazil, a signatory of the Pact of San José of Costa Rica, which may imply compensation for the victims and changes in the conduct of this matter.

"The most important thing here is a sentence that condemns Brazil to take the Constitution and the legislation seriously," opined Hédio Silva Júnior. "Absolutely, nothing is done. The Brazilian state is a state that is silent on this issue."