Iemanjá statue vandalized in João Pessoa

The Iemanjá statue at Cabo Branco Beach in João Pessoa was targeted by vandalism early Saturday morning. Around 3:25 a.m., a woman wearing a red shirt was captured on Smart City surveillance cameras throwing a stone at the monument, shattering its protective glass. While the statue itself was not damaged, the incident has prompted immediate action from local authorities.

The Public Ministry of Paraíba has opened an investigation to determine if the act constitutes religious intolerance, a crime under Brazilian law. The João Pessoa City Hall has reinforced security at the site and requested the replacement of the protective structure. The Municipal Civil Guard is currently conducting searches to identify and locate the suspect based on video evidence.

This is not the first time the monument has been attacked; previous incidents of vandalism occurred in 2013, 2016, and early 2024. Past attacks led to similar investigations into religious intolerance against Afro-Brazilian religions.