In 2007, Brazil’s National Day to Combat Religious Intolerance, 21 January, became official in Law no.11635 of 27 December. The date pays homage to Mãe Gilda de Ogum, who died 22 years ago from a massive heart attack after becoming a victim of religious racism. Since then, Mãe Gilda and the 21 January have symbolized the struggle for freedom and respect for religious diversity.
On the night of 20 January, the Ecumenical Coordination of Service (Coordenadoria Ecumênica de Serviço: CESE), KOINONIA Ecumenical Presence and Service (KOINONIA Presença Ecumênica e Serviço), (in Portuguese), the ACT (Brazil) Ecumenical Forum (Fórum Ecumênico ACT Brasil: FEACT ) and the Bahia Ecumenical Council of Christian Churches (Conselho Ecumênico Baiano de Igrejas Cristãs: CEBIC) (in Portuguese) launched a series of projections referring to the National Day to Combat Religious Intolerance. The activity lit up the streets of three of the country’s state capitals: in Consolação, in São Paulo (São Paulo state), in Copacabana in Rio de Janeiro (Rio de Janeiro state) and in Rio Vermelho in Salvador (Bahia). The act was part of the programme for the Week to Combat Racism, Hate and Religious Intolerance (16 to 22 January), aimed at raising awareness and mobilizing society to confront all forms of religious intolerance and violence, which have intensified in recent years.
The statistics demonstrate this reality: in most cases, threats to the free manifestation of faith affect people from African-origin religions. In the first half of 2019 alone, there was a 56% rise in the number of cases compared to the same period in the previous year, according to data from Dial 100 (Disque 100) published by the Brasil de Fato newspaper. Of the 354 denunciations, 233 did not contain information about the specific religion, while 61 referred to African-origin religions; 18 to Spiritism; 12 to Catholicism; 12 to Jehovah’s Witnesses; 11 to Evangelicals; 3 Christians; 2 Buddhists; 1 Protestant, and there was 1 case of violence against Atheists. Acts of religious intolerance also affected Indigenous Spiritualties.
Last year, seven Guarani and Kaiowá Prayer Houses were burnt down in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, according to a report published by the Indigenous Missionary Council (Conselho Indigenista Missionário: CIMI) (in Portuguese). For indigenous peoples, the burning down of a sacred house represents a far greater spiritual loss than a material one.
According to Sônia Mota, CESE’s Executive Director and Pastor of the United Presbyterian Church (Igreja Presbiteriana Unida: IPU), these numbers demonstrate the need for churches and faith-based organizations committed to the defence of rights to run activities to combat denialism, racism and intolerance of a religious origin, which are so present in our society: “When will we truly look at each other and respect each other, demonstrating that it is possible to live our faith, without seeing others as enemies? Everybody has the right to experience their spirituality according to their choice. The defence of religious freedom needs to be part of our theological work. The 21 January, remembered for the pain of the loss of Mãe Gilda, represents a day of struggle and commitment to plurality, to diversity and to respect for religious freedom. Any structural change or transformation that is considered in this country requires the recognition of religious plurality and the implementation of public policies to combat religious racism. As a pastor, I recognize that Christianity is only one of the religious traditions that we constitute as a nation,” she declared.
People from other religions matter and deserve respect. Religious Intolerance is a Crime! The organizations that promoted this act have undertaken a commitment to respect and reaffirm that everybody is worthy of respect and freedom of belief, including those who do not profess any creed.
See the 20 January projections HERE. More were displayed on 21 January! In Largo de Santana in Salvador at 8pm there was another exhibition of phrases to reassert the struggle against intolerance, hate and religious racism! Check out the organizers’ social media posts.
#AntiRacistStruggle #21January #NationalDaytoCombatReligiousIntolerance
#Feact #Cebic #CeseRights #KoinoniaForRights #21January
#ReligiousIntolerance #NotoReligiousRacism #ReligiousFreedom