Massimo Introvigne
(ZENIT News – BitterWinter / Brasilia, 04.30.2024).- The Brazilian government should allow “the use of clothing or accessories related to belief or religion in photos of official documents.. as long as they do not prevent proper individual identification and the face remains visible.”
This is the unanimous decision of the Supreme Court (Supremo Tribunal Federal, STF) that ruled on April 17 on the case of a Paraná Catholic nun from the Sisters of Santa Marcelina who was refused renewal of her driver’s license since she insisted on providing her picture dressed in religious clothing and wearing a veil.
The nun sued the Traffic Department in a case that had implications for other official documents and for Muslims and members of other religions. The decision of the Supreme Court was somewhat expected. The government itself and the Traffic Department had decided at the beginning of April, shortly before the Court’s decision, to amend their policies and allow the use of religious clothing in pictures used for official documents, including driver’s licenses.
The decision of the Supreme Court will now prevent future governments from altering the regulations again in a more restrictive sense.
The Brazilian Supreme Court’s verdict comes one week after French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal created controversies in Canada by publicly expressing his support to the controversial Quebec secularism law that prohibits many public sector employees from wearing religious symbol at work. While Attal used a visit to Canada to support the law, Canada’s federal government is considering joining the religious and educational organizations that have challenged the Quebec law at the Supreme Court.
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