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Kátia Abreu Suggests Alcolumbre Betrayed Lula Because He Is Jewish, Then Deletes Post

From Folha de S.Paulo · (9m ago) Portuguese Critical tone

Translated from Portuguese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Kátia Abreu, a PT politician, suggested Senator Davi Alcolumbre betrayed President Lula because he is Jewish.
  • Abreu initially posted a comparison to Judas Iscariotes, including a reference to him being Jewish, but later edited it to remove the religious mention.
  • She denied antisemitism, stating she has admiration for Jewish people, and the post was subsequently removed.

In a move that has sparked significant controversy, Kátia Abreu, a prominent figure within the Workers' Party (PT) and a potential candidate for governor in Tocantins, made a deeply troubling suggestion on social media. Abreu implied that the President of the Senate, Davi Alcolumbre, betrayed President Lula due to his Jewish faith. Her initial post on X directly compared Alcolumbre to Judas Iscariotes, explicitly stating, "Judas was Jewish. He paid the price we know." This statement invoked one of the most dangerous and historically charged antisemitic tropes, linking Jewish identity with betrayal. While Abreu later edited the post to remove the direct mention of Alcolumbre's faith, the damage was done. The original sentiment, however, was clear and has drawn sharp criticism from experts and activists who study and combat antisemitism. Abreu's subsequent denial of antisemitism, claiming admiration for Jewish people and stating she did not name names, rings hollow given the explicit nature of her initial comparison. The incident occurred within the context of the Senate's rejection of Jorge Messias, Lula's nominee for the Supreme Federal Court, a political development that Abreu was commenting on. The episode highlights the persistent danger of antisemitic rhetoric, even when cloaked in political commentary, and underscores the responsibility public figures have to avoid invoking harmful stereotypes. The Brazilian Jewish community and its allies are rightly outraged by this invocation of historical prejudice.

Até um pé na bunda te joga pra frente. Nada como um dia após o outro e uma longa noite no meio. Judas era judeu. Pagou o preço que conhecemos. Cada época tem seu Judas

— Kátia AbreuOriginal social media post suggesting Senator Davi Alcolumbre's alleged betrayal of President Lula was linked to his Jewish faith.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Folha de S.Paulo in Portuguese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.