2023-04-29 17:49:45
Religious freedom in Brazil is a reality at serious risk, as pastors who emphasize the divergence of Christianity in relation to other religions, including beliefs of African origin, suffer persecution and censorship, with decisive action by the State. The most recent case involves a pastor from Pernambuco.
Aijalon Berto Florêncio, pastor and leader of the Dúnamis Pernambuco Ministry, was the target of search and seizure warrants and arrest last Thursday, April 27. The Military Police, accompanied by the Public Prosecutor’s Office of the state, complied with the determinations issued by the Justice after accusations of “religious intolerance”.
According to information from the local press, Pastor Florêncio would have failed to comply with court orders from the District of Igarassu, which had imposed censorship against him for his preaching denouncing the incompatibility of religions of African origin with Christianity.
There are two other lawsuits against the pastor who accuse him of homophobia and racism, for his biblically based preaching against homosexual practice. The complaints refer to publications on social networks between February and July 2021, which allegedly violated freedom of religious practice and the “dignity of the community”, according to information from the portal. JC.
In one of the complaints, the pastor is accused of offending the “dignity of the community” by associating paintings alluding to Afro-Brazilian religions as “witchcraft” and “satanic entities”.
“The accused reached the community through hate speech rooted in prejudice against religion of African origin, therefore extrapolating the right to proselytize his belief or freedom of expression. In addition, he practiced the act on a social network of high and undetermined reach, a circumstance that aggravates and qualifies the conduct ”, pointed out the prosecutor José da Costa Soares.
Denounced by the Public Ministry, the pastor also faces accusations of transphobia for criticizing a trans woman linked to an action by the Municipality of Igarassu on the subject.
Prosecutor Soares also requested that the Justice determine the obligation to remove any similar offensive content. In all, the Public Prosecutor’s Office requested that the pastor be sentenced to pay compensation in the amount of R$ 200,000.
The pastor’s wife posted a video on social media denouncing the truculence of the Military Policy of Pernambuco in complying with the warrants, with breaking down the gates of the house, even with the signaling of the pastor who would attend to them. watch:
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