Badar Khan Suri: Indian Researcher in the US Facing Deportation

Badar Khan Suri, a postdoctoral associate at Georgetown University, faces deportation after being arrested for allegedly spreading Hamas propaganda and having ties to terrorism. His case highlights significant issues concerning academic freedom and immigration policy.

Badar Khan Suri, an Indian-origin postdoctoral associate at Georgetown University, is currently facing deportation from the United States. He is recognized for teaching a course titled “Majoritarianism and Minority Rights in South Asia.” A Georgetown University spokesperson indicated that Mr. Suri secured a visa to further his doctoral research focused on peacebuilding initiatives in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Mr. Suri’s arrest occurred outside his residence in Virginia, executed by masked agents, as reported by Politico. He faces allegations of “spreading Hamas propaganda” and maintaining “close connections to a known or suspected terrorist.” Tricia McLaughlin, the Assistant Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, noted on X that he was promoting antisemitism on social media.

Further accusations claim that Mr. Suri has ties to a senior advisor for Hamas. The Secretary of State determined on March 15, 2025, that Mr. Suri’s actions and presence in the United States warrant his deportation under INA section 237(a)(4)(C)(i).

Dr. Badar Khan Suri holds the position of Postdoctoral Fellow at the Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding at Georgetown University. He earned his PhD in Peace and Conflict Studies from the Nelson Mandela Center for Peace and Conflict Resolution, Jamia Millia Islamia in New Delhi in 2020, where he examined state building complexities in his thesis entitled “Transitional Democracy, Divided Societies and Prospects for Peace: A Study of State Building in Afghanistan and Iraq.”

Mr. Suri is an interdisciplinary scholar with specializations including religion, violence, and peace as well as ethnic conflicts and peace processes in the Middle East and South Asia. Notably, his professional profile at Georgetown University has been made private, requiring login credentials for access. His spouse, Mapheze Saleh, a US citizen originally from Gaza, is a first-year student at the Center for Contemporary Arab Studies at the same institution.

In summary, Badar Khan Suri, a postdoctoral associate at Georgetown University, faces deportation due to serious allegations of promoting Hamas propaganda and being linked to a terrorist. Despite his academic contributions in peacebuilding, these charges have led to his arrest and the imminent threat of deportation. His case reflects the complex interactions between academia, immigration, and national security concerns.

Original Source: www.ndtv.com