Saturday, March 29, 2025
Georgetown academic released judge — A federal judge has ordered the release of Georgetown University researcher Badar Khan Suri, who was detained in a Texas immigration center. His arrest earlier this year sparked widespread criticism, as supporters claimed it targeted his speech on Palestinian rights.
Suri, an Indian national on a student visa, was arrested outside his Virginia home on March 17. US immigration agents accused him of spreading “Hamas propaganda” and having “connections to a known or suspected terrorist.”
However, US District Judge Patricia Tolliver Giles ruled on Wednesday that his detention violated both free speech protections and due process. The court found no credible evidence tying Suri to Hamas or any terrorist activities.
According to court documents, Suri’s wife, Mapheze Saleh, is a US citizen whose father was once an adviser to Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh. He later left the Gaza government in 2010 to promote peace through a non-profit institute.
“There was no evidence submitted… regarding statements that he made,” the judge said, rejecting claims of Suri’s involvement in any extremist activities.
In a statement shared by the ACLU, Saleh expressed deep relief at the ruling. “Hearing the judge’s words brought tears to my eyes,” she said. “I truly wish I could give her a heartfelt hug from me and from my three children, who long every day to see their father again.”
She emphasized, “Speaking out about what’s happening in Palestine is not a crime.”
Suri’s lawyers maintain that his arrest was politically motivated and tied to his activism for Palestinian human rights. The ACLU, which represents Suri, says separate deportation proceedings are still ongoing under the Trump-era policy.
Suri is not alone. In recent weeks, several students and academics, including Columbia University graduate Mahmoud Khalil and Tufts University student Rumeysa Ozturk, were also arrested for alleged ties to Hamas. Both cases drew similar scrutiny over free speech and profiling.
Khalil, a permanent US resident, was arrested on March 8 after participating in a campus protest. Ozturk was detained in Louisiana in March but released on bail this week.
