Brazil: 'Alarming' reports of politically-motivated attacks and intimidation ahead of presidential election

Presidential election takes place on Sunday

Violence and intimidation used against people in the run-up to the election

‘… more and more people, including public figures, assault and persecute those who express an opinion different from their own’ - Erika Guevara-Rosas

Responding to media reports of politically-motivated violence and threats ahead of the Presidential elections in Brazil, Erika Guevara-Rosas, Amnesty International’s Americas Director, said:

“The news of escalating violence and threats against people exercising their civil and political rights is alarming. The reports of electoral harassment against working people who are under pressure to define or declare their vote, including threats of losing their jobs if they fail to do so, is also very worrying.

“Electoral intimidation has been particularly prominent in religious centres and it has flooded social media, where more and more people, including public figures, assault and persecute those who express an opinion different from their own.

“President Jair Bolsonaro and his administration must ensure that they disseminate reliable information, counter false statements and do everything in their power to prevent and condemn any attacks and intimidation in the days leading up to the presidential runoff vote.

“It’s also imperative that all state institutions function properly and with complete respect for human rights, including the public security forces and the justice system, to guarantee that the Brazilian population can fully exercise their civil and political rights before, during and after the presidential elections.”