In a press conference following another Plenary Assembly of the CEP held in Fátima, José Ornelas emphasized the importance of not viewing immigrants as threats or enemies, but rather recognizing their significant contributions to Portuguese society.
“They are making a remarkable contribution, and on the other hand, they ask to be welcomed and to become part of this society. Only in this way can we build a future, because any form of sidelining or ostracizing these people leads to nothing good, neither now nor in the future,” noted the prelate.
José Ornelas stressed that “it is not fair, it is not true, it is a manipulation pursued with other objectives.”
“And we do not participate in it,” added the president of the Portuguese Episcopal Conference.
In various locations, posters from presidential candidate André Ventura, leader of Chega, display phrases like “This is not Bangladesh” and “Gypsies must obey the law.”
The Public Prosecutor’s Office has launched an investigation following several complaints regarding these posters.
Additionally, six individuals have filed a lawsuit against André Ventura, demanding that the leader of Chega be compelled to remove the posters referring to the Gypsy community within 24 hours.
The trial is scheduled for the 27th at the Palace of Justice in Lisbon.
This information was highlighted today by the newspaper Expresso, and to Lusa, lawyer Ricardo Sá Fernandes, who drew up the special action for personality protection, explained that this trial would consist of a single session where witnesses from both sides—the leader of Chega and the six people requesting the removal of the posters—will be heard.
The session is set to start at 09:20, and by the end of the day, it should be determined whether André Ventura will be required to remove the posters concerning the Gypsy community.
The action filed last week also seeks to impose a fine of five thousand euros per day of delay or for any similar posters that may be placed.
The plaintiffs argue that the posters “convey the message that Gypsies do not obey the law,” which “stigmatizes and humiliates the Gypsy people as a whole.”
“They feel powerless to halt the wave of xenophobia and contempt for the Gypsy people that the placement of the posters generates in Portuguese society,” the action reads, noting that if accepted by the court, it does not need to pass through the Public Prosecutor’s Office.
The posters display the following phrase, accompanied by a photograph of André Ventura as a Presidential candidate: “Gypsies must obey the law.”
