Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva signed a law passed by Congress in December on Wednesday that equates racial slurs with racism, a crime that does not admit bail.
The new law, promulgated by Lula da Silva during the inauguration of the new Minister of Racial Equality, Anielle Franco, also includes as a crime “collective racial insult”, which can double the sentences of the people involved.
With the law, those responsible for insulting the honor of a person due to their race, color, ethnic group, religion or origin will be included in the crime of racial insult, with a penalty that increases from one to three years to between two and five years in prison. . The offense is not subject to the statute of limitations.
The penalty for racial slander, now defined in the Penal Code as racism, can be doubled when the offense is committed by two or more people and also applies to cases that occur at football matches, sporting, cultural or religious events. .
For racial slurs at football matches, the law also states that those responsible can be banned from stadiums for up to three years.
Anielle Franco welcomed the approval of the law and the Ministry status of the new government portfolio, which was created in 2003 during Lula’s first government as a secretariat with ministerial powers and was extinguished by former President Jair Bolsonaro.
“The fight against racism and fascism is also part of the fight for justice, reparation and democracy,” said the new minister, sister of murdered Rio de Janeiro councilwoman Marielle Franco.
Source: TSF
