The attack on religious freedom in Brazil’s recent history

Abstract

In the last decade, several countries have seen attacks on the principle of religious freedom and the secular character of the state. In Brazil, this movement gained strength from the 2018 presidential election campaign that elected Jair Bolsonaro. Boasting the rhetoric of the self-proclaimed evangelical groups, the president, his ministers and advisors have been attacking religious freedom, a democratic guarantee present in our legislation for more than a century. Tolerance and respect for all religions are fundamental achievements of the Modern State; its defense strengthens the institutions and guarantees the continuity of democracy.