The President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, will honor, this Thursday afternoon, the lawyers “still alive, who between 1954 and 1974 defended political prisoners” during the Estado Novo dictatorship.
In a statement sent to newsrooms, the Bar Association (OA) informs that the head of state will honor all those who “1945 and 1974 defended political prisoners in the Plenary Courts during the dictatorship of the Estado Novo”.
These Courts, created in 1945, were based in Lisbon and Porto, and were made up of a Judge and two Members, appointed by the government, “with competence for crimes against State security”.
The OA states that: “The Plenary Courts provided cover for the arbitrariness and violence of the Estado Novo, thus giving “body to what someone called toga fascism””.
“The behavior of the Plenary Court Judges was particularly complacent towards PIDE agents, who were often rude and arrogant towards defense lawyers, conditioning their actions” states the note.
Lawyers were always “faithful to their principles in defending the rights, freedoms and guarantees of citizens”.
The OA indicates that “it was always on the first line in defending its lawyers and in the defense of political prisoners”.
“In the year of celebration of the 50th anniversary of April 25, 1974, it is never enough to pay homage to these lawyers. A tribute that represents a passing of testimony to new generations, in order to preserve the collective memory of resistance to dictatorship and dignify the fight for freedom and democracy”, explains the Order.
The following lawyers will be awarded the Order of Liberty in the Grade of Grand Officer: Amadeu Lopes Sabino, Antonio Cortés Simões, Delgado Martins, Joaquim Cavaqueiro Mestre, Jorge Santos, José Biscaia Pereira, José Carlos de Vasconcelos, José Coelho Alves, José Vera Jardim, Levy Baptista, Lopes de Almeida, Macaísta Malheiros, Monteiro Matias and Saúl Nunes.
This decoration was proposed by the OA.
Tags: President Republic honors lawyers defended political prisoners
