False narratives make victims of dictatorships relive the trauma suffered during repression

Fighting the dictatorships of Argentina, Brazil and Chile resulted in the deaths of many people. Others were arrested, tortured, exiled, lost their jobs and all contact with their families. Despite this, social networks have reversed the situation: thousands of posts from supporters of the regime transform the victims into the villains of dictatorships. They are called murderers, terrorists, bank robbers, kidnappers and, why not, liars.

It is not uncommon for these victims to be forced to relive the trauma every time someone praises a torturer, or denies torturing, or accuses them of crimes they never committed. A feeling similar to that described by Brazilian journalist Miriam Leitão, imprisoned for three months and victim of torture during the dictatorship in Brazil: “Finding in old age, in good health again, the enemy who made you unhappy in your youth is not easy. It’s not easy.