Flávio Dino issues rulings on religious symbols and expression

Supreme Federal Court (STF) Justice Flávio Dino has issued two significant rulings regarding religious symbols and expression in Brazil.

First, Dino declared the end of a legal dispute involving comedian Antonio Tabet. The case centered on a social media post featuring the image of Our Lady of Aparecida and political criticism directed at candidate Flávio Bolsonaro. Following a majority decision by the Superior Electoral Court (TSE) to allow the content to remain online, the STF determined there were no further points to resolve, effectively closing the case.

In a separate decision, Justice Dino ordered the Federal Police to investigate a series of attacks on religious images and symbols across multiple Brazilian states. The order follows incidents of vandalism and destruction of sacred objects in cities such as Salvador, Rio Grande, Londrina, Maceió, Belo Horizonte, and in Mato Grosso.

Dino justified the federal intervention due to the interstate nature of the incidents and their potential classification as crimes against human rights. The investigation will look into various offenses, including religious prejudice, contempt for religious worship, and damage to property. Data from Disque 100 indicates a rise in reports related to religious intolerance, with notable increases in complaints involving both Umbanda/Candomblé practitioners and Catholics.