The American Association of Jurists acknowledged in a statement former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva as a political prisoner, and joins the international campaign for his immediate release.

For the association it is clear that the imprisonment had a political motivation and it is unrelated to the crime for which he is accused. The sentence pretend to remove the public figure of Lula da Silva from the national political process.

The American Association of Jurists denounces that Lula´s conviction was a result of an accusation violating the legal process, with prejudice to the right of defense, without proof, and in a process directed by Judge Sergio Moro.

The statement refers that Moro is the current Minister of Justice, and was appointed as soon as the new ultra-rightist government of Jair Bolsonaro took possession.