Badar Khan Suri, a postdoctoral researcher, accused of spreading Hamas propaganda and promoting antisemitism.
Badar Khan Suri, an Indian postdoctoral researcher at Georgetown University in Washington, DC, is facing deportation following his detention under President Donald Trump’s immigration policies. Suri, who has been vocal about criticizing Israel’s actions in Gaza, is accused of spreading Hamas propaganda and promoting antisemitism on social media.
“Suri has close connections to a known or suspected terrorist, who is a senior advisor to Hamas,” stated Tricia McLaughlin, an assistant secretary at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), on X. Despite this, no concrete evidence of Suri’s ties to Hamas has been provided.
Suri, who was conducting research on peace-building in Iraq and Afghanistan at Georgetown’s Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding, is currently detained at a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Alexandria, Louisiana.
Ahmad Hassan, Suri’s lawyer, has petitioned for his release at the US District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.
Georgetown University has stated that Suri was in the United States on a student visa for his research and that they are unaware of any reason for his detention, supporting their community members’ rights to free speech and open debate.
Suri’s social media activity includes criticism of India and support for the Palestinian cause. In an instance, he accused India of enabling genocide by supplying missiles to Israel.
This development follows closely after Columbia University student Mahmoud Khalil’s arrest over his involvement in pro-Palestinian protests, who has since begun a legal challenge against the deportation order.
A federal court has acknowledged Khalil’s argument that his removal could infringe upon his free speech and due process rights as worthy of careful review.
“Suri has close connections to a known or suspected terrorist, who is a senior advisor to Hamas,” stated Tricia McLaughlin, an assistant secretary at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), on X. Despite this, no concrete evidence of Suri’s ties to Hamas has been provided.
Suri, who was conducting research on peace-building in Iraq and Afghanistan at Georgetown’s Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding, is currently detained at a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Alexandria, Louisiana.
Ahmad Hassan, Suri’s lawyer, has petitioned for his release at the US District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia.
Georgetown University has stated that Suri was in the United States on a student visa for his research and that they are unaware of any reason for his detention, supporting their community members’ rights to free speech and open debate.
Suri’s social media activity includes criticism of India and support for the Palestinian cause. In an instance, he accused India of enabling genocide by supplying missiles to Israel.
This development follows closely after Columbia University student Mahmoud Khalil’s arrest over his involvement in pro-Palestinian protests, who has since begun a legal challenge against the deportation order.
A federal court has acknowledged Khalil’s argument that his removal could infringe upon his free speech and due process rights as worthy of careful review.
