The researcher at the University of Georgetown, Badar Khan Suri.
Andrew C. Condon/ /Alwaleed bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian understand
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Andrew C. Condon/ /Alwaleed bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian understand
More than 130 Jewish students, staff members and former students of the University of Georgetown signed a public letter opposing the arrest and detention of the Badar Khan Suri researcher, saying that President Trump’s policies make the Jews on the campus less safe.
Jewish students who signed call for the arrest and detention of Suri “an authoritarian decision that harms the whole campus community”.
The letter was published Friday in Georgetown’s journal, “The Hoya”.
Suri, postdoctoral purse in Georgetown and an Indian national, was arrested by masked federal agents After an Iftar from Ramadan in March. He is accused by the Ministry of Homeland Security Managers of having propagated Hamas propaganda.
The deputy secretary of the Department of Internal Security for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin said on x: “Suri was a student in a foreign exchange at the University of Georgetown, actively disseminating Hamas propaganda and promoting anti -Semitism on social networks. Suri has close ties with a known or suspected terrorist, who is a main advisor to Hamas.”
Suri’s stepfather was previously Hamas advisor, according to the New York Times.
Suri lawyers deny that he has spread propaganda and accuses the Trump administration of retaliation against Suri and his wife for their support for the Palestinians and links with Gaza.
NPR has contacted the administration to comment on the affirmation of the letter – that prominent detention and deportation threaten the armament of anti -Semitism. Tricia McLaughlin de DHS replied: “Mental gymnastics quite absurd to believe that the revocation of the visas of individuals who glorify and support the terrorists, harass the Jews and make the offers of organizations who savor the murder of the Americans and the Jews, is in fact, making Jewish students less safe.”
The letter of the students, teachers and alumni of Georgetown Jews is partly read: “President Trump arms in arms in arms the Jewish identity, faith and fears of anti -Semitism as a smoke screen for his authoritarian program, damaging the climate of the campus for everyone.”
Disagreement on what constitutes anti -Semitism
Georgetown’s letter was published one day after the Trump administration presented his argument to hold the activist Mahmoud Khalil, who was accused of having supported Hamas terrorism. The justification of the administration largely is based on anti -Semitism allegations and “disruptive activities”.
It also occurs two days after the American citizenship and immigration services announced that it will start screening Immigrant social media for anti -Semitic activity.
In January, Trump published a executive decree This has established measures to combat anti -Semitism, in particular on university campuses.
Some Georgetown Jews question the motivation and consequences of these policies.
“To justify this incursion by the federal government to come and grasp the individuals of their communities … This does nothing for our security,” said Jonathan Mendoza, a student of the Democracy and Governance Master program who signed the public letter.
Emma Pinto, signator and first -year law student in Georgetown, said that she was particularly disturbed when the administration published, “Shalom Mahmoud” (In reference to Mahmoud Khalil) on X. For her, this strengthens the anti -Semitic trope that the Jews exercise industrial power levels in society.
The signatories of Georgetown’s letter include students, teachers, staff and elders, who say they have “variable opinions and perspectives on Israel-Palestine”.
Pinto said that despite these differences, the signatories felt aligned with the issue of Suri’s detention. They are suitable, said Pinto, that the arrest of Suri, Khalil and Rumeysa Ozturk, as well as the revocation of student and work visas of many others – violates civil freedoms and creates a climate of fear.
“You could find any protest for anti -Semitic Palestine,” said Pinto. But “you also agree that the detention of people and the seed of fear in a community is not the way.”
