The SOS Racism movement stands in solidarity with Mamadou Ba and criticizes the court decision

The SOS Racismo movement expressed solidarity with Mamadou Ba, who was sentenced this Friday to pay 2,400 euros for defaming the far-right activist Mário Machado in a case related to the death of Cape Verdean Alcindo Monteiro in 1995.

“In view of the court’s decision to follow the will of an admitted neo-Nazi, the SOS Racism movement reaffirms its solidarity with Mamadou Ba and condemns the political persecution to which he has been subjected and, through this, anti-racism itself,” the movement said in a statement.

According to the movement, there is a “clear desire in society to take an anti-racist stance aimed at silencing voices fighting for democracy.”

“Unfortunately, this position has acquired structural contours, which becomes especially serious when it is reproduced by institutions associated with justice,” he criticizes.

The same organization also states that it advocates “for a justice that is immune to this kind of complicity and that seeks to combat the structural racism that affects the institutions that govern people’s lives and with which they must deal every day to ensure their rights are respected.” ” “Your rights.”

For SOS Racismo, “it is important not to forget that Mario Machado was one of the few involved in the violence of June 10, 1995, who never showed any remorse and continues to be actively involved in movements with far-right ideology.”

Considering the results of the announcement of today’s verdict, the movement understands that this decision “contradicts all cases in which all persons involved in the “black hunt” of June 10, 1995 were convicted.”

Thus, they declare that they express “unconditional support for any decision that Mamadou Ba may take” and declare that they are “mobilized to build, together with all those who fight for democracy, a just and egalitarian society.”

Reading out the verdict, the judge emphasized that “Mario Machado did not kill Alcindo Monteiro” and that the accused Mamadou Ba explained this fact as “repeated ad nauseum”, insulting the honor of the assistant in the trial (Mario Machado), his wife and children.

The court also considered that on the part of Mamadou Ba there was a clear desire to “denigrate” Mário Machado, emphasizing that the latter’s criminal past does not interfere with his right to honor, especially since the criminal process in Portugal is based on re-socialization and to prevent the stigmatization of those who have already served term.

As he left the court, Mario Machado told reporters that the decision to sentence Mamadou Ba “was a victory for Portuguese justice” and “also a victory for the Portuguese left” after the departure of such prominent political figures as Francisco Luzão, Ruy Tavares and Francisca Van Dunem. To testify in favor of Mamadou Ba, “the court did not allow itself to be pressured.”