The Brazilian Minister Flávio Dino of the Supreme Federal Court (STF) voted on Friday to assert that the Amnesty Law should not apply to ongoing crimes, such as concealment of corpses and kidnapping, that occurred during the military dictatorship. The case, which began deliberation in a virtual session of the court, will be paused following a request for additional time from Justice Alexandre de Moraes. This issue is particularly significant given the historical context of the military dictatorship in Brazil and the ongoing discussions about accountability for human rights abuses.

The deliberation was originally scheduled to continue until February 24, but with Moraes's request, he will have 90 working days to assess the implications of the Amnesty Law regarding crimes committed during the 1961-1979 period. Dino argued that the Amnesty Law should only apply to crimes fully committed before the law was enforced, highlighting the idea that allowing coverage for current or continuing offenses would be akin to granting a prospective state clemency, which is not legally permissible.

This case raises critical questions about the legacy of Brazil's military regime and whether justice can be pursued for unresolved atrocities. The outcome may have profound implications for victims' families, human rights advocates, and the legal landscape in Brazil regarding accountability and historical memory of the dictatorship.