Statement from the Brazil-Palestine Institute (IBRASPAL)

The Brazil-Palestine Institute (IBRASPAL) expresses its vehement repudiation of the conviction of political leader José Maria de Almeida (Zé Maria), president of the PSTU, by the 4th Federal Criminal Court, which sentenced him to two years in prison under the accusation of “racism.”
This is a serious and alarming decision that criminalizes a legitimate political position: the defense of the Palestinian people and the denunciation of the ongoing genocide in the Gaza Strip, as well as the colonial character of the regime imposed by the “State of Israel” on occupied Palestine. By punishing such a stance, a dangerous precedent of restricting freedom of expression and political persecution is set in Brazil.
The lawsuit, brought by entities such as CONIB (Israeli Confederation of Brazil) and FISESP (Israeli Federation of the State of São Paulo), is part of a broader pattern of judicialization against voices critical of “Israel.” Amid Israel’s growing international isolation due to widely documented genocide allegations by international bodies, attempts to silence journalists, academics, activists, and political leaders intensify.
IBRASPAL states clearly: the accusations in this case are based on a deliberate confusion between antisemitism — which is an unacceptable form of racism and must be fought without reservation — and anti-Zionism, which constitutes a legitimate political position, recognized under the right to freedom of expression. Rejection of Zionism as a political ideology, as well as condemnation of the policies and violations of the “State of Israel” and the genocide in Gaza, cannot be criminalized. Equating political criticism with racism not only distorts the concept of antisemitism but also trivializes the fight against real racism, while seeking to shield a political project from public scrutiny.
We reiterate that defending the rights of the Palestinian people, denouncing international crimes, and taking a stand against oppressive regimes does not constitute a crime — it is an ethical and political duty. Therefore, the Brazil-Palestine Institute (IBRASPAL) expresses its full solidarity with Zé Maria and calls on civil society, democratic institutions, and human rights defenders to take a stand against this decision and against any attempt to criminalize solidarity with the Palestinian people.
Thursday, April 29, 2026
Brazil-Palestine Institute (IBRASPAL)

First published here in Portuguese by IBRASPAL