According to the spokesperson for the Luanda Provincial Command of the National Police, Nestor Goubel, on Sunday 33 faithful of the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God (IURD) Angola were arrested, who were sent to the Public Ministry for subsequent summary trial.
"This arrest occurred at a time when the police were carrying out actions and the citizens who were arrested committed these crimes", said Goubel, adding that "a case was opened and they were forwarded to the Public Prosecutor's Office" and then, be heard by the "guarantee judge for summary judgment".
The Angolan wing of the IURD denounced this Monday the "illegal" detention of more than 40 pastors and workers after clashes with faithful from the Brazilian wing, on Sunday, after the reopening of the temples.
In a statement, the "reformist" wing of the IURD led by Bishop Valente Bizerra Luís said that there was a clash between the two wings on Sunday, which forced police intervention, with more than 40 pastors and workers being arrested.
"To date, there is no news document identifying the subjects [detained] of the crime, nor their location, opting for silence and refusing to say where they are, preferring to just say: we cannot say anything for superior orders", the note reads.
For this wing of IURD Angola, the way in which the arrests took place violates the right to information, provided for in the Angolan Constitution, and translates into "abuse of authority, which makes the detainees hostage with the intention of coercing a community into an action or omission".
Images circulating on social media confirm the confrontation between believers on Sunday, the day on which some temples were reopened, including the Alvalade cathedral, whose mass was led by Bishop Alberto Segunda, leader of the Brazilian wing.
In November 2019, IURD dissidents in Angola accused the Brazilian leadership of financial crimes, racism, discrimination and abuse of authority, among others, and constituted a reformist wing, recognized by the Government as the legitimate representative of the Brazilian religious movement.
The Government recognized the new name of IURD Angola, Church of the Kingdom of God in Angola (IRDA), also determining the transfer of all assets to IRDA, which is contested by the Angolan wing.
