Violence Motivated by Religious Intolerance in Brazil: A Public Health Concern
1
School of Medicine, Faculdade Municipal Professor Franco Montoro (FMPFM), Mogi Guaçu, Brazil
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):
ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT:
Religious freedom, recognized as a fundamental human right, ensures the peaceful coexistence of diverse beliefs and non-religious convictions, safeguarded by the principle of state secularism. However, the persistence of violence motivated by religious intolerance exposes the fragility of this guarantee, revealing violations that directly affect the dignity, health, and safety of affected populations. The objective of this study was to describe the epidemiological profile of reported cases of violence motivated by religious intolerance in Brazil between 2014 and 2024. This descriptive, cross-sectional, and quantitative study was based on notification forms recorded in the SINAN/DATASUS system and analyzed using descriptive statistics in SPSS version 28. A total of 2,195 cases were identified, with the highest concentration in São Paulo (27.3%), Minas Gerais (14.8%), and Rio de Janeiro (13.3%). Victims were predominantly female (71.3%), of mixed race (42.2%), single (44.1%), heterosexual (65.9%), with completed secondary education (17.0%), and without disabilities or disorders (74.7%). The household was the primary setting of occurrence (65.1%), with repeated episodes in 43.9% of cases, and most injuries were not self-inflicted (73.7%). Physical violence (70.0%) and psychological/moral violence (36.5%) were the most frequent types, while the main means of aggression were bodily force (51.6%) and threats (20.8%). In 66.4% of reports, a single perpetrator was involved, typically an adult aged 25–59 years (60.0%), and alcohol use was identified in 26.8% of incidents. Regarding referral pathways, health services were predominant (58.3%), followed by general police stations (20.2%). In conclusion, violence motivated by religious intolerance in Brazil occurs predominantly against mixed-race women, within domestic environments, with recurrent episodes and predominance of physical and psychological aggression, perpetrated mainly by individuals close to the victims. Referral is concentrated in health services and police authorities, underscoring the urgent need for intersectoral coordination to address and mitigate this form of violence.
Religious freedom, recognized as a fundamental human right, ensures the peaceful coexistence of diverse beliefs and non-religious convictions, safeguarded by the principle of state secularism. However, the persistence of violence motivated by religious intolerance exposes the fragility of this guarantee, revealing violations that directly affect the dignity, health, and safety of affected populations. The objective of this study was to describe the epidemiological profile of reported cases of violence motivated by religious intolerance in Brazil between 2014 and 2024. This descriptive, cross-sectional, and quantitative study was based on notification forms recorded in the SINAN/DATASUS system and analyzed using descriptive statistics in SPSS version 28. A total of 2,195 cases were identified, with the highest concentration in São Paulo (27.3%), Minas Gerais (14.8%), and Rio de Janeiro (13.3%). Victims were predominantly female (71.3%), of mixed race (42.2%), single (44.1%), heterosexual (65.9%), with completed secondary education (17.0%), and without disabilities or disorders (74.7%). The household was the primary setting of occurrence (65.1%), with repeated episodes in 43.9% of cases, and most injuries were not self-inflicted (73.7%). Physical violence (70.0%) and psychological/moral violence (36.5%) were the most frequent types, while the main means of aggression were bodily force (51.6%) and threats (20.8%). In 66.4% of reports, a single perpetrator was involved, typically an adult aged 25–59 years (60.0%), and alcohol use was identified in 26.8% of incidents. Regarding referral pathways, health services were predominant (58.3%), followed by general police stations (20.2%). In conclusion, violence motivated by religious intolerance in Brazil occurs predominantly against mixed-race women, within domestic environments, with recurrent episodes and predominance of physical and psychological aggression, perpetrated mainly by individuals close to the victims. Referral is concentrated in health services and police authorities, underscoring the urgent need for intersectoral coordination to address and mitigate this form of violence.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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