Portuguese gov't demands investigation for antisemitic threats against Israeli doctoral student

Portugal's attorney general has been asked to open a criminal investigation into alleged antisemitic threats, discrimination, and violence at the University of Coimbra. The allegations come from Bar Harel, an Israeli-American-Portuguese doctoral student who claims he faced hostile posters, Hezbollah flags, death threats, and physical assault.

Harel's case has gained the attention of the Portuguese government, with the prime minister's office and university ministry referring the matter to the attorney general, central criminal investigation department, and prosecutors in Coimbra. The alleged incidents began shortly after the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, with Harel documenting a campaign of harassment that escalated in May 2024.

Harel documented a hostile environment marked by antisemitic graffiti, including swastikas, and the display of flags from Hamas and Hezbollah, as well as posters with slogans such as "Zionists should carry a certificate to prove they're human" and "Death to the IDF." He also reported threats, including a direct threat stating "Your family deserves a second Holocaust" and physical assault while carrying an Israeli flag.

The university has denied these allegations, claiming the posters mentioned in Harel's complaints were not found on campus, and the threats lacked concrete details. However, Harel provided photographic evidence to support his claims, including stickers removed from university walls. The Israeli Embassy in Portugal expressed support for the authorities' decision to open a criminal investigation, calling for continued efforts to combat antisemitism.