Badar Khan Suri is an Indian national and postdoctoral fellow at Georgetown University’s Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding, specializing in peacebuilding and state-building in conflict regions such as Afghanistan and Iraq.
He completed his PhD in Peace and Conflict Studies from Jamia Millia Islamia in New Delhi in 2020.
On March 17, 2025, Suri was detained by U.S. Department of Homeland Security agents outside his residence in Virginia. The authorities allege that he has been “actively spreading Hamas propaganda and promoting antisemitism” on social media platforms. Additionally, they claim he has close connections to a senior advisor to Hamas.
Suri’s legal team contends that his detention may be linked to his marriage to a U.S. citizen of Palestinian heritage and their advocacy for Palestinian rights.
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Georgetown University has expressed support for Suri, stating that he is legally in the U.S. on a student visa and that they are unaware of any illegal activities on his part. The university emphasizes its commitment to free and open inquiry, expecting a fair legal process in Suri’s case.
Suri’s arrest is part of a broader pattern, following the recent detention of other student activists with alleged pro-Palestinian sentiments. Critics argue that such actions may infringe upon First Amendment rights and reflect an increasing scrutiny of international scholars critical of U.S. foreign policy.
