Washington, March 21, 2025:
A U.S. judge has ordered that Indian researcher Badar Khan Suri, a postdoctoral fellow at Georgetown University, cannot be deported following his arrest over alleged ties to Hamas. The case has sparked concerns over academic freedom and free speech, particularly during President Donald Trump’s administration.
Suri, who specializes in peace and conflict studies, was arrested outside his home in Virginia on Monday night by masked agents. He is currently detained at an immigration center in Louisiana and is expected to be transferred to Texas. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) accused him of “spreading Hamas propaganda and promoting anti-Semitism” on social media, citing his alleged connection to a senior Hamas advisor.
However, Suri’s legal team has strongly refuted these claims, arguing that he is being targeted solely for his political views and his wife’s Palestinian heritage. Hassan Ahmad’s attorney stated that the U.S. government has provided no evidence of criminal activity and that the detention is a retaliatory action to suppress dissent.
Judge Patricia Tolliver Giles of the Eastern District of Virginia ruled that Suri “shall not be removed from the United States unless and until the Court issues a contrary order.” The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) also intervened, calling the arrest an “unconstitutional attempt to silence political dissent.”
Georgetown University has defended Suri, emphasizing that he was lawfully granted a visa to continue his research on peacebuilding in Iraq and Afghanistan. “We are not aware of him engaging in any illegal activity,” a university spokesperson said.
Suri’s wife, Mapheze Saleh, is a U.S. citizen of Palestinian descent. The couple believes they are being targeted due to their political views, particularly their criticism of U.S. policy on Israel. Reports indicate that Saleh’s father, Ahamed Yousef, previously served as a deputy foreign minister in the Hamas government, though he left after its five-year term ended.
This case follows another recent controversy involving Indian student Ranjani Srinivasan, who left the U.S. after her visa was revoked over accusations of supporting Hamas.
Democratic Representative Don Beyer has condemned the arrest, calling it “an unlawful attack on free speech and due process.” Legal proceedings to secure Suri’s release are ongoing. on free speech and due process.” Legal proceedings to secure Suri’s release are continuing. Keep Reading Questiqa.in
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