Camila Jourdan (born 1980) is a Brazilian philosopher, anarchist activist, and university professor. A specialist in the thought of Ludwig Wittgenstein and a teacher at Rio de Janeiro State University (UERJ), she is also known for being the target of a flawed prosecution by Brazilian authorities for her participation in the 2014 protests in Brazil, where she was accused by the country's security forces of preparing and making Molotov cocktails. Initially sentenced to six years in prison, she was ultimately fully acquitted in 2024 by the Supreme Federal Court.

Camila Jourdan
Born1980 Edit this on Wikidata
OccupationPhilosopher, researcher, militant Edit this on Wikidata

Biography

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Youth and education

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Camila Aparecida Rodrigues Jourdan[1] was born in 1980[2] and is originally from the northern part of Rio de Janeiro.[2] Her grandfather was a general in the Brazilian army.[2] Fatherless at the age of 12,[2] she had a daughter in 2001 or 2002.[2] After studying philosophy at the Rio de Janeiro State University (UERJ) and the Sorbonne in Paris, she defended her thesis on Ludwig Wittgenstein,[2] her master thesis was called "How a rule connects with its applications: the problem of 'infinite determination' in the philosophy of the second Wittgenstein"[3] and her doctoral thesis was called "Impredicativity, Generality and the Development of Wittgenstein's Thought".[3]

She began teaching at the Rio de Janeiro State University as an assistant professor at first, and later as a full professor.[2]

2014 protests

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In 2014, during the protests that shook Brazil in opposition to the hosting of the FIFA World Cup, in which she was actively involved, she was targeted by Brazilian security forces and portrayed as one of the leaders of the social movement. Her apartment, which she shared with her then-partner, Igor D'Icarahy, was searched by the police without a warrant.[4][5] After finding fireworks and other items there, and finding messages referring to pencils, she was accused of planning to create Molotov cocktails and subsequently arrested.[4] The indictment was weak and even included individuals such as Mikhail Bakunin, one of the founding thinkers of anarchism, who died in 1876.[6][7] After being imprisoned for 12 days at Bangu prison during the protests, she was quickly released pending her trial.[8] Facing these accusations, she received significant support from the Brazilian academic community, which mobilized to defend her and expressed concern about the implications for the political opinions of Brazilian scholars.[9][10]

Initially sentenced to six years in prison, she was ultimately fully acquitted in 2024 by the Supreme Federal Court.[4]

References

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  1. ^ Barreira, Gabriel (2014-07-21). "TJ-RJ concede liberdade provisória a casal de ativistas, que seguirá preso". G1 Rio (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on 2024-04-02. Retrieved 2024-08-13.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "Folha de S.Paulo - Poder - Da Sorbonne para a rua - 28/07/2014". Folha online. Archived from the original on 2024-08-11. Retrieved 2024-08-13.
  3. ^ a b "Camila Rodrigues Jourdan". Escavador. Retrieved 2024-08-13.
  4. ^ a b c "Justiça do Rio absolve ativistas envolvidos em protestos de 2013 e 2014". G1 (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2024-03-20. Archived from the original on 2024-04-04. Retrieved 2024-08-13.
  5. ^ Rodas, Sérgio (2021-09-22). "TJ-RJ inutiliza provas obtidas no cumprimento de prisão temporária". Consultor Jurídico. Archived from the original on 2024-04-29. Retrieved 2024-08-13.
  6. ^ "Filósofo russo já morto é citado como suspeito em inquérito no Rio de Janeiro". Revista Fórum (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2014-07-28. Archived from the original on 2023-01-14. Retrieved 2024-08-13.
  7. ^ TNI (2014-07-31). ""the philosopher Mikhail Bakunin is a suspect"". The New Inquiry. Archived from the original on 2024-04-15. Retrieved 2024-08-13.
  8. ^ "Sininho e outros 2 ativistas são soltos após 12 dias presos no Rio; saída é marcada por tumulto". Noticias R7 (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2014-07-24. Archived from the original on 2014-07-29. Retrieved 2024-08-13.
  9. ^ "Reitor da Uerj critica prisão de professora e alunos | Exame". exame.com (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on 2024-08-13. Retrieved 2024-08-13.
  10. ^ Vitória, Folha (2014-07-15). "Reitor da Uerj critica prisão de professora e alunos". Folha Vitória (in Brazilian Portuguese). Archived from the original on 2024-08-13. Retrieved 2024-08-13.