Recent changes to Portugal’s citizenship law have intensified debates about national belonging and minority rights. Enacted in March and taking effect in September, the updated rules added two new prerequisites for Sephardic descendants seeking Portuguese nationality. The changes introduce requirements tied to ancestral connection and ongoing ties to the territory, such as property ownership or regular travel patterns within Portugal. Critics argue these stipulations narrow eligibility for a group historically linked to the country, prompting demonstrations from the country’s largest Jewish community organization, the CIP, along with business and political leaders.
Earlier this month, the CIP filed a complaint with the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, naming former members of António Costa’s socialist government, lawmakers, and media figures as alleged instigators of a conspiracy. The filing asserts that the revised law, in place since 2015 to facilitate citizenship for Sephardic descendants, has faced opposition that has fueled accusations of hostility, defamation, and harassment toward Jews residing in Portugal. Among those cited are the current Speaker of Parliament and the former Justice Minister, who also served as Foreign Minister during the earlier stages of the debate.
alleged irregularities
Both the Speaker and the former minister, who oversaw foreign affairs until recently, supported the reform after becoming aware of alleged irregularities in how Sephardic applications were processed. Under the reform, the government delegated many procedures to religious organizations, including the CIP. News reports indicated that a rabbi connected to the CIP was detained in March as part of the wider investigation. The case touched high-profile figures associated with citizenship grants, drawing international attention when the passport of a notable businessman tied to Chelsea Football Club was issued in connection with the pathways under review. The passport grant prompted criticism of government policy amid ongoing sanctions related to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Gabriel Senderowicz, head of the CIP, spoke to El Periódico, part of the Prensa Ibérica network, characterizing the police operation known as “The Open Door” as an attempt to harm Jews with Portuguese ties. He described the operation as misrepresented in the public eye as the sale of passports through a money-driven rabbi, arguing instead that it resembled a broader political maneuver. He contended that the real aim was to undermine the credibility of the citizenship law and to attack community leaders and individuals with confirmed Sephardic origin, all framed as a case of political manipulation.
antisemitic conspiracy
The CIP president echoed concerns about sovereign authority, noting that Portugal, as a state, reserves the right to amend its laws. Yet he criticized the public debate surrounding the 2020 opening of citizenship pathways to Sephardic Jews for being dominated by voices lacking prudence and common sense in Parliament and the media. The complaint to the European Prosecutor’s Office reportedly targets a dozen individuals for actions associated with a conspiracy, rather than aiming at the state itself.
In response, the Speaker of Parliament described the alleged involvement in an anti-Semitic conspiracy as unfounded. He stressed that as Foreign Minister he publicly addressed issues at various Portuguese consulates and condemned the improper use of the law to secure citizenship. He noted that Sephardic Jews who were historically expelled from Portugal in the 15th century should not be recharacterized, and he referenced the decision to revoke the passport of the Porto rabbi, pending ongoing investigations, as part of due process.