Brazilian agency investigates employee who made salute referencing Nazism
01 de February de 2025
By Jadson Lima – From Cenarium
MANAUS (AM) – The Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa) opened an administrative proceeding on Friday, the 31st, to investigate allegations of Nazi propaganda by Marcelo Costa Mota, a 46-year-old employee of the institution based in Manaus. The institution, which is linked to the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (Mapa), informed CENARIUM that it had reported the case to external investigative agencies.
According to experts, it is the responsibility of the Federal Police (PF) and the Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office (MPF) to investigate complaints regarding the use of Nazi symbols and gestures associated with this context. When contacted by the report, the agencies had not yet confirmed whether they had received the complaint or provided updates on the progress of the investigation. CENARIUM also requested clarifications from Mapa and is awaiting a response.
Embrapa stated that the procedure against the institution’s employee is being processed within the Internal Affairs department, which is responsible for internal investigations. “The recently publicized case is being rigorously investigated, and all appropriate measures will be taken in accordance with internal regulations and current legislation. Upon learning of the incident, Embrapa initiated an administrative process, which is currently being handled by the institution’s Internal Affairs department,” a portion of the statement reads.
The opening of the administrative process and the notification of investigative authorities came a day after CENARIUM revealed that Marcelo Mota had repeated the behavior of businessman Elon Musk, making a gesture similar to the “Sieg Heil” salute used by Adolf Hitler in Nazi Germany during World War II (1939–1945). The photo of the Embrapa employee was published on January 25, five days after Musk made a similar gesture at the inauguration of President Donald Trump in Washington, USA.
In the image, which the report accessed, the Embrapa employee is wearing light-colored shorts and a black shirt while raising his right arm at an angle, with his fingers slightly bent downward. He is also holding a red, white, and black flag featuring an eagle and a cross. The symbols and gesture resemble those used by Nazi Germany. When asked to comment on the case, the employee stated that he would pass the inquiries to his legal counsel. See the recorded gesture:
Marcelo Costa Mota is an Embrapa employee in Manaus (AM), working in the Information Technology department. According to information reviewed by CENARIUM, he holds a technical position in the general management sector. Records indicate that he joined the organization on September 29, 2008.
In a statement, the company also emphasized that it “values a work environment based on mutual respect and ethics, requiring its employees to maintain conduct aligned with these values.” According to Embrapa, “any behavior that violates these principles will be addressed with due rigor, ensuring the application of appropriate measures.”
Brazil Criminalizes Nazi Propaganda
Brazilian Anti-Racism Law classifies as a crime “the manufacture, commercialization, distribution, and dissemination of symbols, emblems, ornaments, badges, or propaganda using the swastika or hooked cross for the purpose of promoting Nazism.” This offense is outlined in Article 20, §1 of Law No. 7.716/1989, with a penalty of two to five years of imprisonment and a fine.
Article 287 of the Brazilian Penal Code defines the crime of advocating criminal acts, establishing a penalty of three to six months in detention or a fine “for publicly glorifying a criminal act or its perpetrator.” “When there is an association with symbols or ideologies that promote discrimination or intolerance, the conduct can be analyzed under the lens of existing legislation,” experts consulted by the report stated.
Brazil is a signatory of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, which instructs member states to adopt measures to prevent and punish expressions of racial hatred and the promotion of totalitarian regimes responsible for crimes against humanity.
Full Statement from Embrapa:
“Embrapa reaffirms its unwavering commitment to democratic principles, diversity, and respect for human rights. The company vehemently rejects any manifestation that alludes to extremist or discriminatory ideologies or that violates the ethical and legal values of Brazilian society. The recently publicized case is being rigorously investigated, and all appropriate measures will be taken in accordance with internal regulations and current legislation.
Upon learning of the incident, Embrapa initiated an administrative process, which is currently being handled by the institution’s Internal Affairs department, the internal body responsible for the investigation. Additionally, relevant information has been forwarded to the competent external investigative agencies.
Embrapa values a work environment based on mutual respect and ethics, requiring its employees to maintain conduct aligned with these values. Any behavior that violates these principles will be addressed with due rigor, ensuring the application of appropriate measures.
We reaffirm our commitment to transparency and responsibility and continue to monitor the case with the seriousness it demands.”