The UN Human Rights Committee urged Brazil on Friday to ensure that political rights of Brazils jailed former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva are observed given that he was registered as a candidate for the upcoming presidential election.
GENEVA (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 18th August, 2018) The UN Human Rights Committee urged Brazil on Friday to ensure that political rights of Brazils jailed former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva are observed given that he was registered as a candidate for the upcoming presidential election.
On Wednesday, the Brazilian Workers Party (PT) announced it had registered Lula as its candidate in this Octobers election.
"The UN Human Rights Committee has requested Brazil to take all necessary measures to ensure that Lula can enjoy and exercise his political rights while in prison, as candidate in the 2018 presidential elections. This includes having appropriate access to the media and members of his political party," the statement reads.
The committee also urged Brazil to refrain from hindering Lula from participating in the election until after his court appeals were completed.
The 72-year-old began serving his 12-year prison sentence in April on charges of accepting a luxury apartment as a bribe from a construction firm in return for concessions, a claim he denied. Lula served as president from 2003 to 2010 and remains very popular.
