How an Alleged Hamas Connection Led to Trouble for an Indian Researcher in the U.S.

Badar Khan Suri dreamed of a beautiful wedding in Gaza. His guests were ready, and the venue was perfect. But circumstances changed when tensions escalated in Egypt, preventing Mr. Suri’s family from crossing into Gaza. Eventually, they tied the knot in Delhi on January 1, 2014.

Mr. Suri, an Indian national, married Mapheze Saleh, an American citizen with Palestinian roots. Their love story crossed borders, showing that love knows no boundaries.

For Mapheze, moving to India felt like an adventure. She knew India as the home of Shah Rukh Khan. Friends jokingly asked her to say hello to Bollywood stars during her travels.

After a few years in India, the couple relocated to the US. In 2023, everything changed with the renewed conflict in the Middle East. The return of Donald Trump to the political stage brought a significant shift in US policy regarding Palestine. Many people now face challenges over their views on the situation.

Mapheze never expected her Palestinian heritage would lead to difficulties in America. Reports revealed that academics supporting Palestine could be deported. For example, Mahmoud Khalil, a student at Columbia University, faced arrest for protesting.

Mr. Suri’s trouble began on March 17, when he was arrested outside his Virginia home by masked agents from the Department of Homeland Security. They claimed his visa was revoked and he faced deportation, using the same laws that affected Khalil. His lawyer stated that Mr. Suri was being targeted because of his associations and his wife’s background.

At Georgetown University, where Mr. Suri was a post-doctoral fellow, he taught about minority rights in South Asia. The university expressed support for his academic freedom and stated they were unaware of any illegal activities.

Complicating matters, Mapheze’s father, Ahmed Yourself, was a former advisor to Hamas and had published articles discussing the group. Although the US government hasn’t linked her family directly to Mr. Suri’s case, officials have commented publicly on the situation.

Mapheze was born in Missouri but moved to Gaza as a child. Since her husband’s arrest, she has sought help from organizations like the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) for his safe return. They had moved to the US believing in its freedoms, but now face fear and uncertainty.

After the conflict escalated in October 2023, she felt compelled to share her thoughts and experiences on social media. She wrote about the struggles faced by the people in Gaza but soon found herself scrutinized, especially due to her father’s past.

On the night of Mr. Suri’s arrest, Mapheze received a call from him, and she rushed downstairs to find him in handcuffs. He was taken away in a vehicle without any explanation. The following day, he informed her he was detained far from home in Louisiana.

She now lives in fear. “I can’t stop looking at the door, terrified that someone else will come and take me and the children,” she confessed.

While authorities moved to deport Mr. Suri, a local court intervened to prevent his immediate removal. This incident adds to a growing list of cases where individuals, especially academics, face repercussions for their views on Palestine.

Trump’s administration has drawn a hard line against those perceived as supporting terrorism, labeling pro-Palestinian sentiment as dangerous. Recently, he threatened to cut funding for universities if they allowed protests against such policies.

According to a survey by the Pew Research Center, 50% of Americans believe that the US should play a more active role in resolving the Israel-Palestine conflict. Many are rethinking what free speech looks like in this volatile environment, especially for academics and activists.

As the situation unfolds, the Suri case shines a light on the complexities surrounding policies, personal beliefs, and the challenges of advocacy in today’s climate.



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