Pablo Marçal faces R$ 10 million lawsuit for religious racism

Pablo Marçal is the target of a civil public action seeking R$ 10 million in damages for statements classified as religious racism against practitioners of African-matrix religions. The lawsuit, filed by Educafro, stems from comments Marçal made in August during an interview on the program ‘Show do Bacci’.

During the interview, Marçal stated that ‘every macumbeiro is a loser in life’ and suggested that ‘if macumba worked, Bahia would be Dubai’. He also claimed that Umbanda was created by ‘white, rich, and political’ individuals.

In addition to the financial indemnity, the legal action requests that the court order the removal of the content, a public retraction by Marçal, and the publication of a counter-discourse regarding the history and dignity of African-matrix religions. If the indemnity is granted, the funds are recommended to be directed to a public fund for projects combating religious racism and protecting religious sites (terreiros).

Educafro argues that these statements constitute religious racism, a concept recognized by the National Council of Justice, rather than mere religious intolerance. The case has already prompted representations to the Electoral Public Ministry, the Public Ministry, and the police. Furthermore, the Public Ministry of Bahia has opened a procedure to investigate the matter.