Rio gangsters are merging religion and crime as they seize control of territory, branding drugs with religious symbols like the Star of David, not as a nod to Judaism but to the belief that the return of Jews to Israel will bring about the Second Coming of Christ. The Pure Third Command, a powerful criminal group in Rio, has taken over a group of favelas, now known as the Israel Complex, after their leader had a supposed revelation from God. They see themselves as „soldiers of crime“ with Jesus as the owner of their territory.
Pastor Diego Nascimento, a former member of Rio’s Red Command crime gang, turned his life around after becoming addicted to crack cocaine. He now works in prisons helping others change their lives. He believes that being an evangelical Christian and a criminal are contradictory, as following Jesus and biblical teachings should not align with criminal activities.
In Rio’s favelas, evangelical Christianity is growing and resonating with the population, leading some gangs to use elements of the faith to exert power. There are accusations that these gangs are using violence to suppress Afro-Brazilian religions, leading to religious intolerance and the closure of religious houses. The police are taking action against these crimes, recognizing the impact of threats and attacks on religious freedom.
The intertwining of religion and crime in Brazil is not new, with gangsters historically seeking protection from Afro-Brazilian deities and Catholic saints. However, the recent trend of using religion to justify criminal behavior and violence is on the rise, leading to concerns of religious extremism and intolerance in Brazilian cities. Daniel Arce-Lopez/BBC Wir sehen die Präsenz des Heiligen Georg, die Präsenz von [dem afro-brasilianischen Gott] Ògún, die Tattoos, die Kreuze, die Kerzen, die Opfergaben.
„Das ist der Grund, warum es als Narco-Pentekostalismus zu reduzieren ist diese Beziehung, die so historisch und traditionell zwischen Verbrechen und Religion ist. Ich ziehe es vor, es ‚Narco-Religiosität‘ zu nennen.“
Wie auch immer man diese Mischung aus Glauben und Kriminalität nennt, scheint eines klar zu sein: Es gefährdet ein Recht, das in der Verfassung Brasiliens verankert ist – das der religiösen Freiheit.
Und es ist yet eine weitere Art und Weise, wie gewalttätige Drogenhändler den Gemeinden schaden, die gezwungen sind, unter ihrer Herrschaft zu leben.