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São Paulo prosecutor opens inquiry into police school raid over orixá lesson
On 11 November 2025, twelve armed police officers entered the municipal preschool EMEI Antônio Bento in the West Zone of São Paulo after a father – who is also a police officer – complained that a class activity featured the Afro‑Brazilian deity Iansã. The São Paulo Public Prosecutor’s Office (MPSP) opened a civil inquiry, led by prosecutor Bruno Orsino Simonetti, to examine possible racial discrimination, religious intolerance, police violence and violations of the right to education. The investigation relies on testimonies, documents and body‑camera footage. A preliminary internal review by the State Security Secretariat (SSP‑SP) concluded the officers acted in compliance and saw no need for a military police inquiry, while the Municipal Education Secretariat (SME) said the lesson complied with the city curriculum, anti‑racist guidelines and federal laws (10.639/2003, 11.645/2008). The father was indicted for religious intolerance by the Civil Police. The MP stated that no crime justified the police presence, labeling the action “unjustified,” and will assess whether the incident violated education rights and the free exercise of pedagogy under the LDB.
Entities
Bruno Orsino Simonetti · EMEI Antônio Bento · Father (soldier, Polícia Militar) · Iansã · Iansã (orixá) · Ministério Público de São Paulo · Polícia Militar de São Paulo · Secretaria da Segurança Pública de São Paulo · São Paulo State Security Secretariat
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 21 SOURCES] Body‑camera footage shows a discussion between the lieutenant in charge and the school director, with the officer claiming the educator was imposing ideology. imprensapublica.com.br · www.cnnbrasil.com.br · www.acordacidade.com.br · www.araucarianoar.com.br · overbo.com.br · +15 more
- [● 21 SOURCES] Prosecutors said the evidence does not indicate a crime that would justify the police presence in the school. imprensapublica.com.br · www.cnnbrasil.com.br · www.acordacidade.com.br · www.araucarianoar.com.br · overbo.com.br · +15 more
- [● 20 SOURCES] The police entry was prompted by a father, an active soldier of the Polícia Militar, who reported his 4‑year‑old daughter was forced to participate in an Afro‑Brazilian religious activity. imprensapublica.com.br · www.cnnbrasil.com.br · www.acordacidade.com.br · www.araucarianoar.com.br · ejornais.com.br · +14 more
- [● 21 SOURCES] The civil inquiry also examines possible religious intolerance, racial discrimination and the state's civil liability. imprensapublica.com.br · www.cnnbrasil.com.br · www.acordacidade.com.br · www.araucarianoar.com.br · overbo.com.br · +15 more
- [● 21 SOURCES] The incident occurred on 11 November 2025 at the EMEI Antônio Bento school in the West Zone of São Paulo. imprensapublica.com.br · www.cnnbrasil.com.br · www.acordacidade.com.br · www.araucarianoar.com.br · overbo.com.br · +15 more
- [● 21 SOURCES] Twelve police officers entered the school, one of them carrying a rifle. imprensapublica.com.br · www.cnnbrasil.com.br · www.acordacidade.com.br · www.araucarianoar.com.br · overbo.com.br · +15 more
- [● 21 SOURCES] The São Paulo Public Ministry opened a civil inquiry to investigate the police entry. imprensapublica.com.br · www.cnnbrasil.com.br · www.acordacidade.com.br · www.araucarianoar.com.br · overbo.com.br · +15 more
- [● 10 SOURCES] The State Security Secretariat decided not to open a disciplinary military‑police inquiry. imprensapublica.com.br · www.cnnbrasil.com.br · www.acordacidade.com.br · www.araucarianoar.com.br · overbo.com.br · +4 more
- [● 21 SOURCES] The father, a police officer, was indicted for religious intolerance by the São Paulo Civil Police. www.acordacidade.com.br · www.araucarianoar.com.br · imprensapublica.com.br · overbo.com.br · paraonline.com.br · +15 more