**Indian Researcher Detained in the US**
Badar Khan Suri, a researcher from Georgetown University, has been detained by US immigration authorities. Suri is an Indian citizen who holds a postdoctoral fellowship and teaches at the university on a student visa.
The Department of Homeland Security claims that Suri “spread Hamas propaganda” and had “close ties to a known terrorist or suspected terrorist”. However, they have not publicly provided any evidence to support these claims.
**Background to the Arrest**
Suri’s arrest comes as President Donald Trump has been cracking down on students and academics who protested against Israel’s Gaza war. Other academics, such as Leqaa Kodia from Columbia University, have also faced scrutiny or detention by US authorities.
**Details of the Arrest**
According to his lawyer, Suri was arrested outside his home in Northern Virginia on Monday night. He is currently being held at the Alexandria Staging Facility in Louisiana, which is used for detainees awaiting deportation.
Suri’s lawyer argues that he was detained because of his wife’s Palestinian heritage and perceived opposition to US policy towards Israel. The Georgetown University spokesperson said that Suri had been granted a visa to continue his doctoral work on peacebuilding and Afghanistan in Iraq, but did not know about any alleged illegal activities.
**Reaction from Authorities**
Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin at the Department of Homeland Security accused Suri of “actively spreading Hamas propaganda” and promoting antisemitism on social media. She also claimed that he had close ties to a senior advisor to Hamas. However, the BBC has contacted the Department of Homeland Security for evidence to support these claims.
**Other Cases**
Suri’s case is not an isolated incident. Other academics, such as Mahmud Khalfil from Columbia University in New York, have been arrested or subjected to scrutiny by US authorities for their involvement in pro-Palestinian protests on campus.
