WASHINGTON (Diya TV) — Federal immigration officials have arrested Badar Khan Suri, an Indian citizen and postdoctoral fellow at Georgetown University, charging him with spreading Hamas propaganda and encouraging antisemitism on social media.
Suri, who possesses a Ph.D. in Peace and Conflict Studies from New Delhi-based Jamia Millia Islamia, was once a fellow with Georgetown’s Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding. He was picked up at his Arlington, Va., home last week by Homeland Security agents. After being detained, officials rescinded his student visa, and he now waits in a Louisiana facility for immigration proceedings.
The Department of Homeland Security has charged Suri with spreading pro-Hamas content and antisemitic language online. The authorities also point to his marriage to an American of Palestinian origin, whose father is a high-ranking adviser to Hamas. Suri’s involvement in the “Asia to Gaza Solidarity Caravan” in December 2010, a movement for the support of Gaza ruled by Hamas, has also been questioned.
Georgetown University has also raised concerns regarding Suri’s detention. In a statement, the university highlighted its support for academic freedom and due process, adding that Suri’s visa and residency were fully in line with U.S. laws. The university also highlighted its commitment to protecting the rights of its community members to pursue scholarly research and discussion without fear of retaliation.
Suri’s lawyers contend that the detention is unfair, stating that his client’s marriage and support for Palestinian rights are constitutionally protected. They argue that the arrest is part of a larger trend by the current administration to target people based on their political views, specifically those who are critical of U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East.
The incident comes on the heels of the recent detention of another pro-Palestinian activist and student, Mahmoud Khalil, and has civil rights groups concerned about possible violations of free speech and academic freedom. Critics maintain that these actions have the potential to have a chilling effect, discouraging scholars and students from political discourse.
