Brazil: Treatment of followers of the Umbanda religion by authorities or the general population
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 3 October 2000 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | BRA35017.E |
| Reference | 2 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Brazil: Treatment of followers of the Umbanda religion by authorities or the general population, 3 October 2000, BRA35017.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3df4be1534.html [accessed 28 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
No reports on the treatment of followers of the Umbanda religion by authorities or the general population could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
Various reports refer to the practice of Umbanda rituals at "houses" (casas or terreiros) and public places in Brazil, as well as art exhibits related to Umbanda and other Brazilian belief systems that combine African and Catholic elements. However, the only references found on conflict between authorities and members or followers of Umbanda are crime-related. In one case a live chicken being taken by visitors to inmates at a prison for use in Umbanda rituals was found by guards to have cocaine in it, with the apparent purpose of smuggling the drug inside the prison (O Estado de Sao Paulo 4 June 2000). Another report states that a pai-de-santo (similar to a priest or ritual leader) and two relatives of an infant – allegedly killed and dismembered during an Umbanda ritual intended to improve the financial situation of a family in Parana State in 1992 – were among those accused in the homicide (ibid. 25 Mar. 1998). This crime reportedly caused an uproar in the Parana town of Guaratuba, with dwellers stoning both the house of the accused and the prefectura which was headed by her husband at the time; the accused included the pai-de-santo, his two assistants, and two former officers of the prefectura (ibid.).
One report states that the owner of a store selling Umbanda articles was detained by police in connection with the contract killing of an investigator uncovering a fraud scheme affecting a hospital in Rio de Janeiro (O Estado de Sao Paulo 2 Apr. 1998). In one instance, an explosion at an Umbanda store handling explosive materials, caused at least 15 deaths and 16 injured (ibid. 14 May 1997). Both the owners of the store and local authorities (prefectura) were ordered by the courts to compensate the neighbouring businesses affected; the prefectura reportedly knew that the store handled explosive materials and allowed the store to operate at the site without enforcing its relocation, despite it being at a densely populated site (ibid.).
One article reports on the arrest in Argentina of a Brazilian pai-de-santo who headed a terreiro de umbanda in Lanus, Greater Buenos Aires; in his home refrigerator police found some US$3 million believed to be part of a greater sum stolen the previous day during an armed robbery of a securities transport ((ibid. 25 Dec. 1996). Police reported that the pai-de-santo was associated with another Brazilian, an Uruguayan, and three Argentines, and headed a sect called "Children of Oxala" (Filhos de Oxalá) which apparently had contacts in Brazil and Uruguay (ibid.).
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
O Estado de Sao Paulo. 4 June 2000. "Há muitos motivos para matar na cadeia."
_____. 2 April 1998. "Preso outro acusado dos crimes da saúde no Rio."
_____. 25 March 1998. "Mãe e filha negam ter matado menino no PR."
_____. 14 May 1997. Thélio de Magalhães. "Duas empresas que venceram a ação tiveram imóvel danificado em Pirituba."
_____. 25 December 1996. Ariel Palacios. "Preso na Argentina, brasileiro garante não saber como US$ 3 milhões pararam em sua geladeira."
Additional Sources Consulted
A Folha de Sao Paulo. Searchable archives.
IRB databases.
Jornal do Brasil [Rio]. Searchable archives. May-Sept. 2000.
Latinamerica Press [Lima]. 1995-1999.
O Estado de Sao Paulo. Searchable archives. 1995-Sept. 2000.
O Globo [Rio de Janeiro]. Searchable archives.
Umbanda Movement internet links.
Annual Report on International Religious Freedom for 1999. 2000.
Internet Websites, including:
Amensty International.
Human Rights Watch.
International Freedom of Expression Exchange (IFEX)
Internet search engines.
