• Professor Arlene Elizabeth Clemesha, a scholar of Arab History in the Arabic Studies program at the University of São Paulo, on March 31, 2016. (Federal Senate)

Professor Arlene Clemesha, a respected academic specializing in Arab History at the University of São Paulo (USP), is at the center of an escalating campaign of intimidation after publicly condemning the ongoing Israeli war on Gaza. Her outspoken stance, including the use of the term “genocide in Gaza,” has triggered a wave of online abuse led by elements of Brazil’s Zionist lobby, sparking serious concerns over academic freedom in Brazil.

Clemesha, known for her scholarly work on Palestine, contemporary Arab affairs, and Brazil’s ties with the Arab world, recently updated and promoted her book Marxism and Judaism: History of a Difficult Relationship. A podcast interview with Folha de São Paulo’s Ilustríssima—in which she discussed the evolving discourse on Zionism and "Israel"—prompted the current wave of threats and harassment.

“What triggered this latest and extremely vicious wave of online threats from radical right-wing Zionist groups in Brazil,” Clemesha told Middle East Monitor (MEMO), “was that podcast interview, where I exposed the growing fissures in the Zionist consensus which has dominated Jewish communities since the mid-1950s.”

Zionist lobby pressures academic discourse in Brazil

During the interview, Clemesha critically assessed the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA)’s working definition of anti-Semitism, warning that it conflates 'anti-Semitism' with criticism of Zionism. “I spoke about the importance of distinguishing anti-Semitism—a form of racism against Jews—from anti-Zionism, which is opposition to a political-ideological tendency,” she said.

Her comments drew sharp backlash, particularly because she is not Jewish. “The sheer fact that a non-Jew like myself was speaking about issues critical to local Zionist institutions—issues they wish to control—was too much for them. And so, they began a campaign to try to silence me,” she added.

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Clemesha pointed to growing efforts by pro-"Israel" groups to reshape Brazilian public discourse through institutional influence. “They have convinced the municipalities of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, and the state governments of Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, and Rio Grande do Sul, to adopt the IHRA’s working definition of anti-Semitism,” she said.

“They’re even pushing to change public school materials and organise Holocaust essay contests in public schools under the logic of the new definition,” Clemesha stressed.

She warned that such actions stifle critical thought and free expression: “One of the worst forms of censorship is when the fear of retaliation silences you even before you speak. So yes, free speech is under threat in Brazil.”

Gendered attacks and political repression

The Brazilian Communist Party (PCB) issued a strong statement in Clemesha’s defense, describing the attacks as politically and ideologically motivated, with clear gender-based undertones. “The political and gender-based violence against a respected USP researcher only highlights the reactionary nature of those who stand with the Israeli government,” the party stated.

Despite the intimidation, Clemesha remains steadfast. “Silencing is not an option,” she told MEMO, as support continues to pour in from academics, human rights groups, political leaders, and thousands of students who have signed an open letter in solidarity.

Clemesha also highlighted the emergence of dissenting Jewish voices in Brazil who are critical of Israeli policies. “We’ve seen growing numbers of young Jewish people taking on active non-Zionist and anti-Zionist activism and protesting strongly against the Palestinian genocide,” she said.

While the University of Sao Paulo has yet to issue an official response, the controversy underscores a broader global trend: pro-Palestinian voices in academia are increasingly targeted under the guise of combating anti-Semitism, as per the report.

Even as these pressures mount, solidarity movements continue to defend academic freedom and ensure that calls for justice in Palestine are not silenced.