Political persecution: Brazilian journalist Paulo Figueiredo has his passport canceled and accounts blocked

Businessman and journalist Paulo Figueiredo, a commentator for Jovem Pan News, reported this Wednesday (4th) that he had his bank accounts in Brazil blocked and his passport cancelled. He received the information on Tuesday night (3).

Based in the US, Figueiredo would have been included in the fake news survey, information that has not yet been confirmed. Jovem Pan questioned the Federal Supreme Court (STF) on the subject, but the court’s advisory only said that it does not have access to the decisions of investigations that are processed in secrecy. The journalist also had his social networks blocked on Tuesday.

“I have never defended a comma different from what is in the law and in the Constitution. I have always defended law, order, freedom and peaceful demonstrations. I never gave news that wasn’t true. It is clear what I always said: it is the pure persecution of those who oppose the dictatorship they implemented,” commented the journalist to Gazeta do Povo.

Two other journalists also had their accounts blocked on social networks in recent days: Gazeta do Povo columnists Guilherme Fiuza and Rodrigo Constantino.

It is not yet known which court determined the suspensions, with the exception of the case of Constantino: the order against his social networks came from Justice Alexandre de Moraes, of the Federal Supreme Court (STF), within the scope of the fake news inquiry (4,781). According to Revista Oeste, he would also have had his bank accounts blocked and his passport cancelled. In November, journalist Allan dos Santos also had his passport canceled by court decision.

As reported by Gazeta do Povo this Tuesday, lawyers for those involved believe that journalists are included in both the fake news survey and the digital militias survey (4,874).

The defenses are still trying to access the records of the processes of both investigations, which have not yet been fully revealed – unconstitutionally, since the law determines that lawyers can have full access to the records to guarantee the broad right to defense and due process of law.

With information from Gazeta do Povo

More: Brazil news in English, every day from The Rio Times.