Brazilian police have come under heavy criticism after several photos, which show a transgender prisoner who had been savagely beaten, stripped and had her head shaved while in custody, began circulating on social media.

Verônica Bolina was arrested on April 12 in São Paulo, following an altercation with a neighbor. She was placed in a men’s prison, where police allege that she was masturbating in her shared cell and had to be removed for her own safety. It was during the transfer that she allegedly attempted to bite the ear off of a guard, and police say they had no choice but to physically restrain her.

More Transgender Violence Ignored In News Coverage

However, critics are saying that police used excessive force, which the graphic images support. Bolina was beaten to the point she was virtually unrecognizable, and then photographed in various positions. In one, she sits shackled on the ground, her long hair shaved off and her breasts exposed. In another we see her face down in the prison yard as a guard stands above her with a gun (we have chosen to link to the images rather than publish them out of respect to Bolina).

Detractors add that an audio confession obtained by police, in which Bolina absolves them of responsibility, was solicited under duress. A woman’s voice, reportedly belonging to the coordinator of Policies for Sexual Diversity for São Paulo, can be heard in the background feeding her lines.

The incident has caused a storm on Brazilian social media, with people using the hashtag #TodosSomosVerônica (#WeAreAllVeronica) to voice their outrage. Several Facebook pages demanding justice have also sprung up.

Transgender violence is a major problem in Brazil. Of the 226 reported murders of transgender persons, globally, between October 1, 2013 and September 30, 2014, 113 were committed in Brazil. (Note: genuine numbers can be difficult to ascertain due to mis-gendering by police, family and media.)

Read More:

Photo of trans woman beaten by police inspires a movement in Brazil (Fusion)

Brazil trans woman stripped, shaved and disfigured in police beating (Gay Star News)

