
On Monday, February 6, 2023, five of his attackers were sentenced to life imprisonment, with a maximum of 35 years in Argentina and 3-15 years in prison. The author is 21 to 23 years old. This is his one of the most sensational cases in Argentina.
Although racial hatred was not the subject of law enforcement, many activists, family members and government officials believed it was a key factor in the attacks. Argentina’s National Institute against Discrimination, Xenophobia and Racism described it as a clear racist attack.
Báez Sosa’s father has spoken about the crime being driven by hate and feelings of superiority based on skin color.
The trial began with the testimony of 80 witnesses, including youths who witnessed the attack and parents of rugby players.
Prosecutors sought life sentences for all members of the rugby team, while the defense argued they should have been acquitted because they did not intend to kill Baz Sosa. Despite the conviction, some believe that Argentina’s justice system does not fully acknowledge the existence of racism.
Alejandro Mamani, a lawyer and member of the anti-racism group Identidad Marron, believes the case of Fernando Báez Sosa marks a turning point in Argentina.
He said that race was at issue in the case, but not everyone fully understood the implications, and that much work remained to be done to address racism in this country. It claims that there are
In many ways Fernando epitomized the “average Argentinian”. He was the beloved son of a working-class family and embarked on a journey to advance his social standing through his academic excellence. His death sparked a conversation about racism in Argentina, leading people to demand justice for victims of hate crimes.