Brazil’s Lula is a political prisoner. He must be freed now
We condemn the continued persecution of former Brazilian president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who was jailed a year ago. Lula was favourite to win Brazil’s 2018 presidential election until he was jailed and barred from standing, in a move condemned by the UN human rights committee. The election was subsequently won by the far-right Jair Bolsonaro, who has said he hopes Lula “rots in prison”. Astonishingly, Judge Moro, who oversaw Lula’s trial, has now been appointed as Bolsonaro’s minister of justice. Lula is a political prisoner. We call for his freedom and stand in solidarity with those struggling for democracy in Brazil.
Richard Burgon MP
Diane Abbott MP
Daniel Carden MP
Emma Dent Coad MP
David Drew MP
Karen Lee MP
Grahame Morris MP
Laura Pidcock MP
Danielle Rowley MP
Lloyd Russell-Moyle MP
Laura Smith MP
Jean Corston House of Lords
Llin Golding House of Lords
Neil Findlay MSP
Bill Kidd MSP
Tariq Ali
John Pilger
Frances O’Grady General secretary, TUC
Len McCluskey General secretary, Unite the Union
Dave Prentis General secretary, Unison
Tim Roache General secretary, GMB
Paddy Lillis General secretary, USDAW
Manuel Cortes General secretary, TSSA
Mick Whelan General secretary, Aslef
Ronnie Draper General secretary, BFAWU
Chris Kitchen General secretary, NUM
Tony Burke and Christine Blower Vice-chairs, Brazil Solidarity Initiative
