Woman jailed for 14 years in Brazil after 'lipstick coup'

In Brazil, a woman named Debora Rodrigues has been sentenced to 14 years in prison after her involvement in a protest that turned into a riot. This incident occurred in January 2023, when many supporters of former president Jair Bolsonaro took to the streets in Brasilia. They were upset about Bolsonaro's loss in the previous year's election. During the chaos, thousands of these supporters attacked government buildings, leading to a significant response from law enforcement. Debora was convicted of multiple offenses, including the destruction of property and being part of a criminal organization. She was also implicated in an attempted coup against the newly-elected President Lula da Silva. The case was overseen by Justice Cristiano Zanin, who emphasized that Debora was not being punished solely for writing an offensive message in lipstick on a statue but for her broader involvement in the unrest. The message she wrote, 'You lost, idiot,' was directed at the statue of Justice located outside the Supreme Federal Court. This incident has been referred to as the 'lipstick coup. ' Debora, who is 39 years old and works as a hairdresser, expressed remorse for her actions. She claimed that she did not participate in any violent acts during the protests and described herself as 'a good citizen. ' In court, she stated, 'I went to the protests and I didn't imagine that they would be so turbulent. ' Her defense team argued that she acted impulsively and did not intend to break the law. They pointed out that she did not enter any government buildings during the riots. However, Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who presided over the case, argued that Debora had willingly aligned herself with those seeking to overthrow the government. He noted that she had admitted to participating in anti-democratic activities during her police testimony. Additionally, gaps in her phone messages suggested she may have tried to hide evidence of her involvement. The case has sparked significant debate among Bolsonaro's supporters, who view Debora as a victim of political persecution. They argue that the Supreme Court has become too powerful and biased against them. In February, a video about Debora gained traction on social media, and the following month, Bolsonaro himself shared a post about her on X, calling for amnesty for those involved in the civil unrest of 2023. Meanwhile, Bolsonaro is also facing his own legal troubles related to the alleged coup attempt, and if found guilty, he could face over 40 years in prison.