Brazil’s Supreme Court Opens Criminal Case Against Evangelical Pastor Silas Malafaia
Brazil's Supreme Court began a criminal action against pastor Silas Malafaia on 18 August 2026 over remarks about army generals. He denies wrongdoing. The post Brazil’s Supreme Court Opens Criminal Case Against Evangelical Pastor Silas Malafaia appeared first on The Rio Times .
Brazil's Supreme Court has initiated a criminal case against Evangelical pastor Silas Malafaia, the host of the O Globo television program "O Jornal." The case was launched on Tuesday, 18 August 2026, following remarks Malafaia made at a rally in São Paulo's Avenida Paulista on 6 April 2025. At the event, the pastor called into question the presence of four-star Army generals, describing them as weak, cowardly and ineffective.
He did not explicitly call for a military coup. The complaint was accepted by the court in April 2026 and was the next stage of a case that had been ongoing since the spring. If found guilty, Malafaia could face up to six months in prison or a fine, though such light penalties are typical in such cases. Malafaia denies any wrongdoing and maintains his innocence.
He argues that his remarks were expressions of free speech, rather than insults or slander. The court has not yet ruled on the matter, and evidence gathering is ongoing.
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