'Evangelical Drug Bosses' Accused of Leading Attacks Against African Brazilian Religions' Centers in Rio

10/02/2017 - 14h10

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ANNA VIRGINIA BALLOUSSIER

SPECIAL ENVOY TO RIO DE JANEIRO

"Look at this, my friends; the master devil is here. Burn it down, break everything!"

On that September afternoon, mãe de santo (high priestess) Carmen de Oxum, 66, was attacked by evangelical drug dealers.

The criminal group of the city of Nova Iguaçu, in the Baixada Fluminense region, in Rio de Janeiro, had allegedly converted and began to attack African Brazilian religions in its area of influence.

Her house was one of the eight attacked in the region since August in crimes connected to the evangelical drug bosses.

At least in Carmen's case, the connection was confirmed, the Police General Director of Baixada Fluminense, Sérgio Caldas, told Folha.

The police have identified some of the alleged attackers in an investigation still kept confidential.

The victim is a ialorixá (priestess) in Candomblé; her name is Carmen Flores. The invaders chose other definitions though, as Carmen told Folha: "Witch, macumbeira and a major sorceress who feeds Satan."

INQUISITION

The marks of religious intolerance are often branded on the victim's skin. Also in Nova Iguaçu, a practitioner of another African Brazilian religion (Umbanda) was attacked with stones by an evangelical neighbor in August.

Maria da Conceição da Silva, 65, had to get stitches on her forehead and mouth.

In August the department launched the Fight against Prejudice Hotline. Ten of the 41 calls received in the first month complained of religious intolerance.

Another hotline, Disque 100, a line of the Presidency's Human Rights Department for accusations against human rights violations, registered 15 similar cases in 2011 and a total of 756 last year.

Translated by THOMAS MUELLO

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