"All movable and immovable property belonging to that religious denomination were listed and seized," said SIC, in a note sent to Lusa, adding that the sealing process is being carried out gradually, and may be concluded this Wednesday with the closure of yet another temple in that province.
Last week, SIC and PGR announced the closure of another 25 IURD buildings in Huambo, Cabinda, Moxico, Cuanza Norte, Lunda Sul and Lunda Norte, Bié and Bengo.
In August, the PGR seized seven IURD temples in Luanda (Alvalade, Maculusso, Morro Bento, Patriota, Benfica, Cazenga and Viana), as part of a criminal case for alleged practices of crimes of criminal association, tax fraud and exports illicit capital.
The IURD has been involved in several controversies in Angola, after a group of dissidents left the Brazilian leadership in November last year.
Angolans, led by Bishop Valente Bezerra, affirm that the decision to break with the Brazilian representation in Angola headed by Bishop Honorilton Gonçalves, faithful to the founder Edir Macedo, was due to practices contrary to religion, such as the requirement to practice vasectomy, castration chemistry, racism practices, social discrimination, abuse of authority, in addition to the evasion of foreign currency abroad.
The allegations are denied by IURD Angola, which in turn accuses dissidents of "xenophobic attacks" and assaults on pastors and has also initiated legal proceedings against dissidents.
IURD Angola previously accused the Angolan judicial authorities of having made illegal apprehensions and violating religious freedom, with several court cases taking place.
The conflict gave rise to the opening of criminal cases in the Angolan PGR and rose to the diplomatic sphere, with the Brazilian President, Jair Bolsonaro, asking his counterpart João Lourenço for guarantees of protection of pastors and the Church's patrimony, with the head of Angolan state promised an "appropriate treatment" of the matter in court.
