Pará Court Condemns Pastor for Discriminatory Autism Comments

The Court of Justice of Pará (TJPA) has ordered Pastor Washington Luís Araújo Almeida, a member of the Assembly of God, to pay R$ 50,000 in collective moral damages. The ruling follows controversial statements made during a religious service in Tucuruí in July 2024, where the pastor associated Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) with demonic influence in the wombs of pregnant women.

The court's decision, issued by the 2nd Public Law Chamber, emphasizes that religious freedom does not permit discriminatory manifestations. The ruling serves as a legal milestone regarding the protection of the dignity of autistic individuals and the limits of religious discourse when it reinforces historical prejudices against people with disabilities.