Muslims among main victims of religious intolerance in Rio de Janeiro
Second only to members of African-Brazilian religions, followers of Islam are the most common victims of religious intolerance in the state.
Slurs, spittle, stones and death threats are part of some of the reports on violence against Muslims in Rio de Janeiro filed in the last few months. Second only to members of African-Brazilian religions, followers of Islam are the most common victims of religious intolerance in the state, according to the Center for Religious Freedom and Human Rights, tied to the Secretariat for Human Rights and Social Work. Since January, at least one report a month has been filed. Some 2 thousand Muslims are estimated to live in Rio.
Women are the main victims, as they are easily spotted wearing a hijab. Flight attendant Ana Cláudia Mascarenhas, 43, was punched by a man in public after being called a terrorist in the downtown area.
“I was going for a medical examination when I realized someone had been following me. He stopped behind me, started swearing at me, saying he hated terrorists. I kept quiet, because I'm not a terrorist. When the light turned green, he pulled me by the arm, repeated he hated terrorists and punched me in the face. I ran off like a madwoman, and didn't look back. If he did that at seven, with all those people watching, I wouldn't dare to image what he'd be capable of doing if I reacted or gave him an answer,” Ana Cláudia recounted.
One of the cases reported at the center involves a hazing ritual at a university. A Muslim had her hijab set on fire by her fellow students, which also led to burns on her scalp.
Lorrama Machado, coordinator at the center, stated that, during a class on the topic, held as part of a training course for criminal experts at the Civil Police, an agent remarked that people like the university student deserved to die.
Women are the main victims, as they are easily spotted wearing a hijab.
“The team was in shock. Luckily, the expert's colleagues rebuked him and we saw his was an isolated view. But this officer has completed the course, and may one day be in charge of a crime against a Muslim,” Lorrama said. “What kind of report will he produce if that's what he thinks about Muslim people? That's why keeping people informed and raising awareness are important,” she added.
According to Fernando Celino, spokesman at the Beneficent Muslim Society of Rio de Janeiro, a large number of police officers have not been prepared to identify crimes of religious intolerance. He says a Muslim woman has already filed two police reports against her neighbor, who threatened her with death more than once, but the police treat the case as just a common row between neighbors. “That's why the harassment persists. Agents at several police stations classify cases the wrong way, reporting slander, verbal assault, or some such thing, failing to attach the real importance to the problem, treating it like a lesser crime.”
Another story took place early this year, when a bus driver expelled a passenger, saying he would not take a suicide-bomber on the vehicle. Also this year, the job of an English teacher was imperiled, as parents of students called the language school administration, alleging they did not want “Bin Laden's wife” to teach their kids.
Brazil has a specific piece of legislation, dated from 1989, aimed at protecting members of all faiths, punishing offenders with jail. By the end of the year, city authorities are expected to launch a campaign in a bid to fight intolerance and violence against Muslims. The initiative comes as a result of a collaboration between the Secretariat for Human Rights and Social Work, the Women's Secretariat for Women, and the Labor Secretariat.
Translated by Fabrício Ferreira
Fonte: Muslims among main victims od religious intolerance in Rio de Janeiro
