‘Sinwar is a hero’: Antisemitism and threats against Israeli doctoral student in Portugal

An Israeli-American-Portuguese doctoral student, Bar Harel, has filed complaints alleging antisemitism, incitement and threats at the University of Coimbra, Portugal. The case has garnered significant attention, with university faculties displaying hostile posters, Hezbollah flags, and death threats. Slogans like "Zionists should carry a certificate proving they are human," "Beware of Zionists," and "Death to the IDF" were cited in Harel's complaint.

He also claimed that Hezbollah flags were displayed alongside images supporting Hamas and a poster depicting Yahya Sinwar as a "hero," which could be interpreted as glorifying a terrorist organization. Harel endured death threats, including the statement, "Your family deserves a second Holocaust," and was allegedly physically assaulted for carrying a small Israeli flag on his bag.

Eventually, these events led Harel to withdraw from his doctoral studies in computer engineering. Portugal’s Higher Education Ministry has referred the case to the Attorney General Amadeu Guerra, the central criminal investigation department, and prosecutors in Coimbra for a criminal investigation into possible offenses such as discrimination, incitement to hatred, violence, threats, bodily harm, and public glorification of a terrorist organization.

The referral was prompted by a complaint from citizens and a letter from the Portuguese prime minister’s office. The ombudsman previously ruled in March 2026 that the university had failed to adequately address Harel's complaints, citing "substantial passivity" and an attempt to intimidate him with legal action. The University of Coimbra denies these allegations, stating they were "general and did not include concrete details."

They also rejected a demand from Harel that they pay 3 million euros to avoid legal proceedings. The Israeli Embassy in Portugal expressed satisfaction with the authorities' decision to investigate the case and called for continued efforts to combat antisemitism. Harel remains committed to his cause, stating that the evidence supports his claims and emphasizing the need for equal enforcement of the law for Israeli and Jewish students.