In a decision handed down on Sunday afternoon (8), Minister Dias Toffoli, President of the Federal Supreme Court, accepted a request from the Attorney General's Office and overturned the measure that authorized the Rio de Janeiro city government to censor works at the Rio Book Biennial. Marcelo Crivella's management claims it will appeal.

In the text, Toffoli says that the "democratic regime presupposes an environment of free movement of ideas" and that the image of the kiss between two male superheroes in the comic book "Avengers - The Children's Crusade" does not violate the Statute of Children and Adolescents. Another STF minister, Gilmar Mendes, spoke in the same direction.

City officials visited the fair - Bruno Molinero/Folhapress

The city said in a statement that will appeal the justice's decision.

The decisions occurred after a series of twists and turns in recent days.

After Rio's mayor Marcelo Crivella announced on Thursday (5) that he would collect the Bienal's comic book for bringing a gay kiss, city officials visited the fair on Friday (6), looking for titles considered inappropriate, but left empty hands.

Hours later, the Rio Court of Justice issued an injunction that prevented the city from seizing books on the spot. The decision was overturned on Saturday (7) by the president of the body, Claudio de Mello Tavares, which generated another search for city officials, who left empty-handed again after spending four hours in the place.

Translated by Kiratiana Freelon

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