Brazil: Substantial writing paper: religious approach denied

Randa Vieira

A student from the State of Minas Gerais (Brazil), filed a suit in the local district court seeking to recover damages for emotional distress after having had his substantial writing paper denied. As a result of the denial, the student did not obtain the necessary number of credits to graduate from law school. The student alleges he has been discriminated because of the religious approach of his project. In the paper, he analyzed the positive consequences of allowing inmates to pray and engage in religious services while behind bars. Professors and judges agreed that the paper failed to meet the necessary criteria to be given a passing grade and that the religious approach had nothing to do with their choice. Both groups deny discrimination based on religion: ‘The problem is that the student insisted on combining religion and science but his position is erroneous. Furthermore, he failed to get his point accross in his project’.