Israeli doctoral student faces antisemitic threats and abuse at Portuguese university

An Israeli doctoral student at the University of Coimbra in Portugal has reported a campaign of antisemitic harassment, including personal death threats and Nazi comparisons. The student, identified only by the initials B.H., documented graffiti and messages that included hateful slogans such as “Nazi grades” and “Holocaust to your family”, along with calls for him to leave the city. The Portuguese prosecutor’s office has formally requested a criminal investigation into the incidents.

The escalating antisemitic abuse at the prestigious Portuguese institution has prompted serious concerns about the safety of Israeli students in European academic settings. According to reports, the harassment extended beyond simple political disagreement, with threatening messages appearing on campus that targeted the student personally. University authorities initially downplayed the severity of the situation, suggesting the graffiti was posted outside campus grounds and that complaints lacked sufficient detail for action.

The University of Coimbra has faced criticism for what observers describe as a passive response to the antisemitic campaign. When questioned about the incidents, university officials claimed the hostile messages appeared off-campus and argued that the complaint was too general and unverified to warrant an official investigation. This stance has drawn scrutiny from those monitoring antisemitism in European universities, particularly given the escalation from general anti-Israel sentiment to direct personal threats.

The case highlights ongoing tensions surrounding Israel-related activism on European campuses and the sometimes blurred line between legitimate political protest and antisemitic harassment. Israeli students studying abroad have increasingly reported facing hostile environments, particularly since the outbreak of conflict in Gaza. The formal involvement of Portuguese prosecutors suggests authorities are treating the threatening nature of the messages seriously, even as the university itself appears reluctant to acknowledge systematic problems on its campus.

Source: Ynet — Original article in Hebrew.