Badar Khan Suri, an Indian-origin researcher at Georgetown University, is facing deportation after being arrested for allegedly promoting Hamas propaganda. He holds a PhD in Peace and Conflict Studies and engages with complex issues surrounding state-building in ethnically diverse societies. He is currently under scrutiny by the Department of Homeland Security due to his associations with suspected terrorists, which has prompted significant media attention and discourse.
Badar Khan Suri is a postdoctoral associate at Georgetown University, known for his course on “Majoritarianism and Minority Rights in South Asia.” He originally entered the United States under a visa aimed at conducting doctoral research on peacebuilding in Iraq and Afghanistan. Currently, he faces deportation after being arrested outside his Virginia home by agents who were reportedly masked, according to a report from Politico.
Mr. Suri stands accused of disseminating Hamas propaganda and maintaining ties with individuals identified as suspected terrorists. Tricia McLaughlin, an Assistant Secretary at the Department of Homeland Security, claimed on X that Suri actively spread antisemitism on social media. Furthermore, she noted that a determination made by the Secretary of State in March 2025 deemed Suri’s activities as grounds for deportation under Section 237(a)(4)(C)(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act.
Dr. Badar Khan Suri holds a Postdoctoral Fellowship at the Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding at Georgetown University. He received his PhD in Peace and Conflict Studies from Jamia Millia Islamia in New Delhi in 2020. His thesis examined the multifaceted challenges of state-building in ethnically diverse nations, particularly Afghanistan and Iraq.
As an interdisciplinary scholar, Mr. Suri focuses on the intersection of religion, violence, and peace, especially concerning ethnic conflicts in the Middle East and South Asia. Information regarding his profile at Georgetown University is currently private. His spouse, Mapheze Saleh, is a U.S. citizen, hailing from Gaza, and is a first-year student at Georgetown’s Center for Contemporary Arab Studies.
In summary, Badar Khan Suri, a researcher at Georgetown University, faces serious allegations leading to potential deportation. His academic background emphasizes peace studies, while his current legal situation raises significant concerns regarding academic freedom and national security. The complexities surrounding his case are indicative of the broader issues involving immigration policies and university discourse. As the situation unfolds, it highlights the need for a dialogue on such matters.
Original Source: www.ndtv.com
