Forty years ago, on August 28, 1979, Brazil’s Lei de Anistia (Amnesty Law) was passed, shielding all perpetrators of political crimes committed during the country’s 1964-1985 military dictatorship from prosecution.
Passed by then-president General Joao Figuereido, the law initially provided a framework for national reconciliation. It allowed activists-in-exile the opportunity to return to Brazil. It also gave torture victims and political dissidents a means through which to defend themselves, negotiate their release, and clear their names.
But this project was ultimately shaped by the support from members of the Brazilian military, a fact that led to the law’s unfortunate misinterpretation. What should have been an opportunity for unity, in practice was coopted for legalized impunity for crimes against humanity. The law was broadly interpreted in order to protect the institutions, which facilitated repression during the regime’s 20-year rule and cleared all military officials from being charged for their involvement in international crimes.
