colombia recorded 264 fewer violent deaths last year than in 2021. General Henry Sanabriawho took office as director of the Police last August 2, a few days before the arrival of Gustavo Petro in the presidency, he does not seem to be a stranger to this small but valuable reduction in murders, which in total went from 14,160 to 13,896, according to the Ministry of Defense. But Sanabria is at the center of an unusual storm since, astride its nineteenth-century Catholicism, has claimed the practice of exorcism in the security force and has charged against the use of the condom even Halloween nights. It was not an anti-imperialist turn, but a closer approach to the Harry Potter stories. Sanabria considers these festivities of American origin one satanic strategy that, behind the costumes and confits, take the children along the path ofoccultism.
It all started days ago, when Sanabria assured the magazine Week having “seen” and “perceived” him devil. That’s why, he said, the importance of having the police have a practice to neutralize evil forces like exorcism. “We did it, of course, with the support of the military bishopric.” The general spoke of the “demonic infestation» that can affect people. “At night, they get scratches and bruises. They don’t hurt. They dreamed about it and the next day they wake up with it.”
Shield against mockery
Somehow, Sanabria senses that his personal fight against satanic expressions is often the object of ridicule. He believes that removing Beelzebub is a more important task than listening to disqualifications. His religiosity is stronger than sarcasm. In fact, he claims to enjoy the attacks. «More people want to read the Bible and it sanctifies me».
The chief of police never wanted to be a priest, but to wear the uniform that adorns the most important degree of the institution. When they criticize him for his crucifixes and his inclination to show off, Sanabria remembers that article 19 of the Constitution is definitive: “We are all free to profess our faith freely.”
“But to you who listen I say: Love your #enemiesdo good to those who #hatebless those who #cursepray for those who #insult. Do with others as you want others to do with you.”
San Lucas 6, 27-28, 31 pic.twitter.com/O901oDwMLq— General Henry Armando Sanabria Cely (@henryproteger) March 18, 2023
public disturbance
Sanabria’s expressions have caused an uproar on social networks, especially for having considered the condom to be one abortive method, “especially for those married by the Church”. When he expressed his dismay at the existence of 12,000 police officers with HIV and the presence in the force of people who belong to the LGTBI community, he was called a homophobe. «With so many challenges to face crime and improve security in cities and departments, and the director of the Colombian Police dedicated to giving his personal assessments, which are also biased, discriminatory and lacking in scientific rigor”, complained theMayor of Bogotá, Claudia López Hernández. “President Petro and his Minister of Defense are in arrears to call the police commander to order. It’s one thing to be a believer (I am) and another to pretend that with exorcisms you can face the crime”, said the historian Juan Carlos Florez.
With so many challenges to face crime and improve security in cities and departments and the director of the @PoliciaColombia dedicated to giving his personal appreciations, also biased, discriminatory and lacking in scientific rigor, on exorcism, HIV and abortion ????????♀️ pic.twitter.com/H5JjfGPaSe
— Claudia López Hernández (@ClaudiaLopez) March 26, 2023
Government response
The Minister of Defense, Iván Velásquez, has intervened in the public controversy. «There are situations in which it is preferable that servants of the State do not express themselves in such an extroverted manner; a State official must be very careful because his statements can have an impact on more complex situations”, he recommended.
Petro has encountered controversy when returning from Santo Domingo, where the XXVIII Ibero-American Summit took place. He had to do the work of a balancing act to talk about Sanabria. “The Police at this moment has made progress in the interdiction of drugs. It has played a very important role in the peaceful resolution of conflicts such as in Baix Cauca, as in Caquetá, without the human rights violations we saw before. I have not seen the presence of a belief that has been mixed with the decisions that have been made.”
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The president, focused on the utopian task of “total peace” in Colombia, has claimed to be aware of the general’s “beliefs”. «What we’re trying to do is not affect the rules, simple as that». According to Petro, Sanabria “has been respectful, as far as we know”. His left-wing Government has not received any complaints, “but we will discuss it with him personally” because “personal attitude” towards religion is one thing and another very different “when in the exercise of the function public” this faith “is placed above the norm”.
After the presidential intervention, Sanabria he has allowed himself to be photographed in a contemplative attitude before a priest. The image is accompanied by a quote from Psalm 32,3,5: “While I did not confess my sin, my body was decaying because of my groaning all day. But I unreservedly confessed my sin and wickedness to you; I decided to confess my sins to you, and you, Lord, forgave them”, he says through his account on Twitter. The general is determined to continue his holy war.