Rio de Janeiro City Council approves religious freedom protections

The Rio de Janeiro City Council has passed Bill 948/2025, which establishes rules to prevent the arbitrary interruption of religious services and ceremonies by municipal public agents. The legislation, authored by Councilman Átila Nunes, mandates that inspectors, sanitary surveillance agents, and municipal guards prioritize dialogue and guidance when identifying irregularities.

Under the new rules, the interruption of religious activities—including masses, liturgies, and rituals—will be restricted to instances of proven, immediate, and grave risk to public safety or collective health, or when supported by a written judicial order. In other cases, authorities must notify the temple's leadership and, where possible, provide a deadline for regularization.

The bill aims to ensure that interventions respect principles of proportionality, reasonableness, and human dignity. Public agents who violate these protocols may face administrative accountability. The measure now moves to the mayor for sanction or veto.