Brazilian female lawmakers receive death threats

State deputies from Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo have reported receiving explicit death threats via email. The messages, sent in the early hours of Wednesday, 4, reportedly included threats of sexual violence and references to Nazi and integralist ideologies.

The targets include deputies Renata Souza and Dani Monteiro from Rio de Janeiro, as well as Dani Balbi, Ediane Maria do Nascimento, Paula da Bancada Feminista, and Mônica Seixas from São Paulo. The threats also cited the Movimento Pretas, a political initiative led by Seixas.

The lawmakers have reported the incidents to the Rio de Janeiro State Legislative Assembly (Alerj) and are seeking investigations from the Federal Police. Deputy Renata Souza characterized the attacks as political violence targeting gender and race, stating that such threats constitute an assault on democracy. The deputies are requesting a meeting with the Federal Police Coordination for the Repression of Cybercrimes and Hate to formalize the complaints and trace the origin of the messages.