06.05.2025 00:30
Protests were held demanding the release of students and academics who were detained at Columbia, Georgetown, and Tufts universities for their support of Palestine. The protesters emphasized the increase in political arrests and the restriction of freedom of expression.
The coordinated protests against the detention of academics and students supporting Palestine in the U.S. took place at Columbia, Georgetown, and Tufts universities.
SUPPORT FOR TURKISH STUDENT RÜMEYSA
According to reports in the U.S. media, coordinated demonstrations were held at these three universities demanding the release of Georgetown University researcher Badar Khan Suri, Columbia University graduate student Palestinian activist Mahmud Halil, and Turkish student Rümeysa Öztürk, who is pursuing a PhD at Tufts University, due to their support for Palestine.
FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION IS BEING SUPPRESSED
Dr. Nader Hashemi, a Middle East Policy Expert at Georgetown University, stated in an interview with AA that those detained were arrested without any charges, and this is a policy aimed at silencing freedom of expression regarding Palestine.
Hashemi mentioned that he spoke with Badar Khan Suri, who was detained in March and held at a center in Texas, and that Suri reported the prison conditions were harsh, allowing him only 2 hours of outdoor time per week. Hashemi noted that Suri is trying to teach his friends about Mahatma Gandhi's ideas in prison, expressing that this detention significantly contributes to "bringing attention to the genocide in Gaza."
"NETANYAHU'S LAWYING"
Hashemi stated that Suri is resisting the difficult conditions, saying, "If his detention and the suffering of his family can expose the authoritarianism of (U.S. President Donald) Trump’s administration and continue to draw attention to the genocide in Gaza, then these sufferings will have meaning. I left this visit greatly inspired." He noted that "political detentions" are now occurring in the U.S., adding, "The U.S. is showing similarities to (Russian President Vladimir) Putin's Russia and other authoritarian regimes. The Trump administration is currently acting as the lawyer for (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu and his supporters, who do not want any discussion, opposition, or freedom of expression regarding the Israel-Palestine issue in this country."
"ATMOSPHERE OF FEAR"
Associate Professor Dr. Elliott Colla from the Department of Arabic Language and Islamic Studies at Georgetown University, who participated in the protest, commented, "If they can do this to an academic, they can do the same to all of us." Colla expressed that the increasing "atmosphere of fear" on their campuses has caused great concern among students and academics with immigrant status. He emphasized that the Trump administration is "hunting down" people with different visa statuses, stating, "They are doing this in a very blatant, arrogant, and illegal manner. The main issue is clear. They are trying to silence political opposition."
Students and academics at Georgetown, Columbia, and Tufts universities continue to hold demonstrations every Monday to demand the release of Badar Khan Suri, Mahmud Halil, and Rümeysa Öztürk.
The detention of students supporting Palestine in the U.S. began when Palestinian activist Mahmud Halil, a graduate student leading protests at Columbia University, was detained on March 8 while returning home with his wife at the entrance of a building. His lawyer, Amy Greer, stated that Halil was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials despite being a "green card holder" and having an American spouse, and that his green card was revoked. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated in a post on social media platform X, "We will revoke the visas or green cards of Hamas supporters in America, so they can be deported." For similar reasons, Turkish student Rümeysa Öztürk, who is pursuing a PhD at Tufts University, was also detained. Georgetown University researcher Badar Khan Suri was also targeted for deportation on charges of "Hamas propaganda and antisemitism," but U.S. Judge Patricia Tolliver Giles halted that decision.