Religious activists hold vigil against legalizing drug possession

A movement entitled Brazil Free of Drugs (Brasil sem Drogas in the original) gathered at a vigil outside the Federal Supreme Court building in a bid to urge the justices to use their power of vote to make the decriminalization of drug possession for personal use unconstitutional.

The movement is made up of people from several religions. A ceremony was performed by a Catholic priest. Posters were put up with messages against drugs and abortion. On one of the posters, a quote from Pope Francis reads, “If evil is contagious, so is good. Let's all be infected by good.”

So far, two votes have been cast for the decriminalization, including that of Minister Gilmar Mendes, rapporteur in the case. Criminalizing the drug is a disproportionate move and violates the right to privacy as set forth in the Federal Constitution, he argues. Nine other ministers are yet to vote.

In the view of Andreia Salles, a member of the movement, the discussion on drug policies in the country should not be limited to whether or not drug possession should be legal. Rather, it should address the creation of public policies aimed at education and assistance for drug addicts. We do no think that the Federal Constitution should be used to justify an illicit act, she says.

Brazil Free of Drugs was created in 2014. The association brings together activists from a number of faiths. Salles, for instance, is a member of a self-help group which, alongside her husband, a former drug addict, is responsible for 500 addicts.

Translated by Fabrício Ferreira