Activist Mahmoud Khalil Declares Victory Over Pro-Palestinian Suppression

Tue Oct 21 2025 04:11:19 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University activist, speaks out after his release from immigration detention, asserting that the Trump administration's efforts to silence pro-Palestinian voices have failed.

Released from over three months in detention, Mahmoud Khalil, a prominent activist at Columbia University, emphasizes the resilience of pro-Palestinian voices against suppression efforts by the Trump administration, which faced backlash following his arrest.

Columbia University activist Mahmoud Khalil has recently spoken out against the Trump administration, declaring that their attempts to suppress pro-Palestinian voices have ultimately failed. Fresh from a more-than-three-month stint in immigration detention in Louisiana, Khalil shared his perspective with the BBC upon returning to New Jersey. He stated, "My existence is a message" to those in power, underscoring his belief that activism speaks volumes.

Khalil gained prominence through his involvement in pro-Palestinian protests organized at Columbia University last year. His arrest on March 8 led to widespread demonstrations in New York and Washington, D.C., amplifying support for his cause. The U.S. government had aimed to deport him, asserting that his activism could hurt its foreign policy interests. However, Khalil's recent release marks a significant moment for pro-Palestinian activism in the United States as he continues to advocate for Palestinian rights.