By Maira Magro
Journalists in the interior of Brazil are complaining of various attacks and threats involving politicians and their parties during the ongoing election period. Journalist Bruno de Lima, from the small state of Paraíba, in the northeast of the country, said he had received death threats after publishing stories about pedophilia in the state, explained Paraíba Agora.
According to that article, a city official in Cajazeiras, in the west of the state, was behind the recent threats against the journalist. However, the politician denied the accusations and filed a complaint against the reporter for slander and moral injury, reported Paraíba Urgente.
Some months ago, the article added, Bruno de Lima was beaten by seven military police in the city of Baía da Traição, east of Paraíba, where he also was investigating cases of pedophilia. Also, another article reported on three other cases of attacks against journalists by politicians or their followers.
In Maranhão, journalist Stuart Junior, author of the blog Jornal Regional do Maranhão, said he had been attacked by security guards for the mayor of São Mateus during a ceremony celebrating his return to office for a third consecutive term, according to Jornal Pequeno and Portal Imprensa.
Note from the editor: This story was originally published by the Knight Center’s blog Journalism in the Americas, the predecessor of LatAm Journalism Review.
