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🇧🇷 Brazil /Crime & Justice

Bahia Court to Prosecute Judge Accused of Religious Racism

From Folha de S.Paulo · () Portuguese

Translated from Portuguese and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Under investigation
  • The Bahia Court of Justice will initiate an Administrative Disciplinary Process (PAD) against a judge accused of religious racism.
  • The judge ordered the removal of a photograph depicting a Candomblé leader from a forum exhibition, citing incompatibility with state secularism.
  • Another photograph featuring a religious image was permitted to remain, raising questions about discriminatory intent.

The Bahia Court of Justice (TJBA) is set to initiate an Administrative Disciplinary Process (PAD) against a judge accused of religious racism, with a hearing scheduled for Friday (28). The court will convert an existing inquiry into this formal process, which could lead to the judge's temporary suspension pending the investigation's conclusion.

The case stems from an incident in March when Judge Cesar Augusto Borges de Andrade, presiding over the 1st Public Treasury Court in Camaçari, ordered the removal of a photograph from an exhibition at the Camaçari Forum. The photograph featured Solange Borges, a chef and a Makota in the Candomblé faith, depicted in traditional religious attire. Judge Andrade cited "incompatibility with state secularism" as the justification for its removal.

incompatibility with state secularism

— Cesar Augusto Borges de AndradeThe judge's stated reason for ordering the removal of a Candomblé photograph.

Significantly, another photograph within the same exhibition, which showed a woman holding an image of Saint Anthony, was permitted to remain. This selective removal has fueled accusations of religious bias and discrimination against Afro-Brazilian religions.

discriminatory, prejudiced, intolerant, degrading, and vexatious

— Idafro (Institute for the Defense of the Rights of Afro-Brazilian Religions)Describing the judge's conduct in a complaint to the National Council of Justice.

The investigation into the magistrate was prompted by a complaint filed by Idafro (Institute for the Defense of the Rights of Afro-Brazilian Religions) with the National Council of Justice (CNJ). Idafro characterized the judge's actions as "discriminatory, prejudiced, intolerant, degrading, and vexatious." The PAD will examine whether the judge engaged in institutional religious racism, violated his duty of impartiality, disrespected the principle of equality, or exhibited conduct incompatible with his judicial office.

In his defense to the TJBA's internal affairs unit, Judge Andrade reportedly denied ordering the photograph's removal himself. He claimed his office had requested an analysis of the exhibition's legality, asserting that public space usage should adhere to principles of legality, impartiality, and morality. He stated the decision to remove the image was an administrative one made by the forum's then-director.

The removal of the image, he stated, was an administrative decision by the then-director of the forum.

— Judge's defense statementThe judge's explanation regarding the removal of the photograph.
About this summary

Originally published by Folha de S.Paulo in Portuguese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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