Washington, D.C. – Badar Khan Suri, an Indian student enrolled at Georgetown University, has been detained by US federal authorities on accusations of having ties to the Palestinian group Hamas.
The Trump administration ordered Suri’s detention, claiming that he was promoting Hamas propaganda on social media. According to Suri’s lawyer, the administration views his activities as a threat to US foreign policy and is pushing for his deportation. It has also been noted that Suri’s wife, Mafez Saleh, is a US citizen originally from Gaza.
Lawyer’s Statement on Suri’s Detention
Suri’s lawyer confirmed that he is currently in custody at a detention facility in Alexandria, Louisiana, awaiting a hearing in immigration court. He added that federal agents arrested Suri outside his residence in Rosslyn, Virginia, on Monday night.
Who is Badar Khan Suri?
Suri is a student at Georgetown University, where he is pursuing postdoctoral studies under a student visa. He is associated with the Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding, part of Georgetown University’s Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service. He is married to Mafez Saleh, who has contributed articles to Al Jazeera and other Palestinian media outlets and has also worked with Gaza’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Arrest Sparks Concerns Over Suppression of Dissent
A Politico report indicates that Suri’s detention is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to crack down on activists and students who oppose US foreign policy, particularly regarding Israel. His arrest has raised concerns among civil rights advocates about the suppression of dissenting voices.
While Georgetown University has denied any knowledge of Suri’s detention, no official statements have been released by US authorities regarding the incident.
