UN human rights committee asks Brazil to let Lula run in election

[sandensea]

The United Nations Human Rights Committee has called for imprisoned former president Luiz Inácio "Lula" da Silva to be allowed to run as a candidate in October's presidential elections.

The committee, which oversees countries' compliance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, said on Friday that Lula cannot be disqualified from the poll because his legal appeals are still ongoing.

The committee urged Brazil "not to prevent him from standing for election in the 2018 presidential elections, until his appeals before the courts have been completed in fair judicial proceedings."

Brazil's Workers Party nominated Lula as their candidate earlier this month, despite his currently serving a 12-year prison sentence for his alleged role in the Car Wash beibery scandal Lula during his 2003-10 administration.

The former president is leading the polls by a wide margin. He and his supporters say the charges are politically motivated, noting that no evidence was produced against him.

Under Brazilian law, candidates with a conviction upheld cannot hold office for eight years. But a conviction does not bar them from campaigning.

The Supreme Electoral Tribunal, which has until September 17 to rule on Lula's candidacy, is expected to bar the 72-year-old from running, a decision his lawyers could then appeal to the Supreme Court.

Voters go to the polls on October 7.

At: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/08/human-rights-committee-asks-brazil-lula-run-election-180817143518950.html

Brazil's Luiz "Lula" da Silva. His country's most prominent political prisoner, he currently leads polling by double digits.

[Judi Lynn]

1. It's important that the UN HRC has made this request officially. The time is right, isn't it?

I hate to think what the chances are that there will be a civilized response, but it would be so good to hope.

If there's any way more global attention can be focused on what is happening in Brazil immediately, the pressure maybe could help.

It was excellent reading your post in LBN, bringing information not yet well known here, of course! Maybe in a year or two!

The link to that post:
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10142135940#post2

It would be great thinking that when Trump finally stumbles and can't recover, it might just take the wind out of the sails of the would-be fascist dictators trying to build their reichs in Brazil and Argentina.

[Judi Lynn]

2. UN: Brazil's jailed ex-president Lula can't be disqualified from election

UN: Brazil’s jailed ex-president Lula can't be disqualified from election
Human rights panel says leftist leader cannot be barred as a candidate until his legal appeals have been completed

Agence France-Presse
Fri 17 Aug 2018 13.19 EDT

The UN human rights committee ruled on Friday that Brazil’s imprisoned leftist leader Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva cannot be disqualified from upcoming presidential elections because his legal appeals are ongoing.

The committee issued the finding following an urgent request filed by Lula’s lawyers on 27 July.

In a statement, the panel “requested Brazil to take all necessary measures to ensure that Lula can enjoy and exercise his political rights while in prison, as (a) candidate in the 2018 presidential elections”.

Lula, a two-term former president who is serving time behind bars for corruption, is currently leading the polls for the October vote.

More:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/aug/17/un-brazils-jailed-leader-lula-cant-be-disqualified-from-election