Machado had called for the “forced prostitution” of women from leftist political group
Portuguese Neo-Nazi leader Mário Machado was taken into custody on Thursday afternoon to begin serving a two-year and ten-month prison sentence for incitement to hatred and violence, following a final decision from Portugal’s Constitutional Court.
Machado, known for his neo-Nazi affiliations, was arrested at his home at around 4.30pm, according to his lawyer José Manuel Castro, and is expected to be held initially at Lisbon Prison. His legal team plans to request a transfer to Caldas da Rainha Prison, where Machado had previously announced he intended to voluntarily present himself on Monday, May 26.
Castro criticised the timing of the arrest, calling it “unnecessary” given his client’s stated willingness to surrender.
Machado’s conviction stems from a series of online posts made on X (formerly Twitter), which targeted left-wing women, including Renata Cambra, a teacher and former leader of the Socialist Alternative Movement (MAS). In the posts, Machado and co-defendant Ricardo Pais called for the “forced prostitution” of women from leftist political groups – a central factor in their conviction for discrimination and incitement to hatred.
The defence argued that the content in question was intended as satire, but courts at all levels – including the Lisbon Court of Appeal and now the Constitutional Court – rejected this claim.
Machado and Pais were originally convicted on May 7, 2024, by a lower court. At the time, the defence described the sentence as “unjustified and heavy,” expressing hope for reversal on appeal. However, the higher courts upheld the ruling, sealing the outcome.
