Lisbon’s mayor, Carlos Moedas, stated in an interview with SIC that there had been an “exponential” increase in the number of rapes in the Lisbon area, particularly around Martim Moniz. However, official data suggests otherwise.
Speaking with Júlia Pinheiro on the afternoon program of the Carnaxide channel, Moedas claimed that the “number of rapes increased. But increased exponentially, by 60%! Rapes in the city have increased! I don’t want my daughters…I don’t want them to feel that!”
The mayor, who is a candidate for the Lisbon City Council in the municipal elections on October 12, further noted that the statistics were for the 1st Division of the PSP area, “meaning around Martim Moniz, Arroios…”
The Diário de Notícias argues that this claim is incorrect, stating that the data referenced by Moedas pertains to the entire 1st Division area, which also includes Rossio, Baixa, Arroios, and Alfama, areas with a high flow of people. Thus, associating this increase with a zone having a higher number of immigrants is considered wrong.
PSP and PJ Data
According to data accessed by DN, there was an increase in rape cases in this division from 2023 to 2024, rising from nine to 15.
Across the municipality of Lisbon, reports registered by PSP rose by 12%, from 49 in 2023 to 55 in 2024. The Polícia Judiciária, the authority investigating rape crimes, reported 75 complaints in the municipality in 2024, a 17% increase from the previous year.
According to the PJ, there is no link between this rise and areas of the city with a higher presence of immigrants, countering Moedas’ theory, as noted by Expresso.
It should be noted that in previous years, between 2022 and 2023, there were declines in the number of complaints.
Martim Moniz Mention Was “an Example”
The Lisbon City Council was questioned about the mayor’s statements, specifically why the increase was associated with the Martim Moniz area.
In response, the mayor’s office replied that the mention of Martim Moniz “was an example.”
“It’s part of the first division, right?” was also questioned in the same response.
Association to Martim Moniz is Incorrect
The Polícia Judiciária explained to the same newspaper that while there is indeed a higher registration of such crime complaints in the Lisbon area, most are related to incidents occurring at night or early morning, particularly “in bars or nightclubs, involving the use of chemicals in women’s drinks that leave them prostrate and defenseless to rape.”
When asked if there is any connection between the increased reports registered in 2024 in the city and Martim Moniz, the police force denied such an association could be made.
