TV station forced to play religious freedom video 72 times after slur on atheists

A Brazilian television network has been ordered to play a video about religious freedom 72 times after one of its presenters suggested that atheists were more likely to commit crimes.

José Luiz Datena of Rede Bandeirantes said in 2010 that the shooting of a young man was evidence of the absence of God, and he attributed most crimes to atheists.

"A guy that's atheist, in my humble opinion, has no limits, and that's why we see these crimes happening," he was reported to have said on more than one occasion.

The short video message from the Ministerio Publico Federal (Federal Public Ministry) explains that Brazil is a secular state and one that promotes values of "freedom, democracy and respect".

The Brazilian state is secular. It does not have an official religion to ensure that everyone can be free to choose between being religious or not.

• MPF video

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