By Lumine
ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA — Shouts of “Free him now!” thundered outside a federal courthouse Thursday as demonstrators rallied behind Badar Khan Suri, a Georgetown postdoctoral scholar detained by the Trump administration over his outspoken support for Palestinian rights.
Once quietly researching peace-building in Iraq and Afghanistan, Khan Suri is now at the center of a growing civil liberties crisis, with critics calling him a “political prisoner” and accusing the government of using immigration laws to silence dissent.
Suri, an Indian national, was arrested in March amid a sweeping Trump-led initiative to root out what the administration claims is “antisemitic radicalism” on college campuses. Officials allege Suri violated the terms of his academic visa by “spreading Hamas propaganda”—yet they have presented no public evidence to support the claims.
His wife, Mapheze Saleh, a Palestinian American, stood before a crowd of supporters Thursday outside the Alexandria courthouse, flanked by their three young children.
“This is not justice. This is persecution,” Saleh said, her voice breaking. “He believed in non-violence. He believed in peace. And now he’s being punished for that.”
Suri’s arrest is part of a broader crackdown that has already drawn sharp rebukes from civil rights groups, immigration lawyers, and academics. The Trump administration’s campaign has targeted non-citizens involved in campus protests and pro-Palestinian organizing, often without formal charges or due process.
“This is political policing—plain and simple,” said attorney Amina Rahman, who represents Suri. “There is no evidence, no due process, just vague accusations and a dangerous message: if you speak out, especially if you’re an immigrant, you’re expendable.”
Legal experts warn the case could set a chilling precedent. If deportation is greenlit based on social media posts or peaceful advocacy, First Amendment protections may erode for anyone without full citizenship status.
The White House has not commented directly on Suri’s case. However, in an April press briefing, Press Secretary Madison Cawthorn defended the broader campaign, stating: “This administration will not tolerate hate speech masquerading as activism.”
But for many watching, the lines between national security and political repression have never looked blurrier.
Georgetown faculty have issued an open letter calling for Suri’s release, and several universities are organizing teach-ins to highlight the broader implications of his detention.
“If this can happen to a peaceful scholar with an academic visa,” said Professor Laila Aziz of Georgetown’s Center for Conflict Resolution, “it can happen to anyone.”
The next hearing in Suri’s case is scheduled for May 15, but the battle has already spilled far beyond the courtroom.
“This is about more than one man,” Saleh said, tears streaming down her face. “This is about freedom. And today, it’s on trial.”
