Brazil's Supreme Federal Court has ruled unanimously in favor of allowing religious symbols, including crucifixes, to be displayed in public buildings, affirming that this does not violate the country's secular principles.

According to the Christian Post, the court's decision came after a long-running case, where the justices agreed that such symbols reflect Brazil's cultural history and traditions.

In its ruling, the court emphasised that the presence of religious symbols in public spaces, whether at the federal, state, or municipal level, does not contradict the principles of secularism, non-discrimination, or impartiality.

Justice Cristiano Zanin stated that these symbols are permissible as representations of Brazilian society's cultural heritage, noting that their inclusion is not inherently discriminatory.

Justice Alexandre de Moraes also underscored that public symbols should reflect Brazil's historical and cultural ties to the Catholic faith, which remains the predominant religion in the country.

The case dates back to 2009, when a Brazilian citizen filed a complaint, claiming that the presence of religious symbols in public spaces caused him emotional distress.

The Federal Public Ministry (FPM) supported this claim, arguing that such displays violated the principle of religious neutrality and hindered the religious freedom of all Brazilians.

However, the courts at both the trial and appellate levels dismissed the case, and the Supreme Court's ruling finalizes the legal position in favor of religious symbols in public buildings.

ADF International, which submitted a legal brief on behalf of the Church's interests, called the decision a victory for religious freedom in Brazil.

Tomás Henríquez, the group's director for Latin America & the Caribbean, expressed that the argument of "hurt emotions" was not sufficient to justify banning these symbols.

ADF emphasised that the state's neutrality should not extend to hostility towards Christianity, and that acknowledging the historical and cultural significance of Christianity is important in the context of Brazil.