By ETT 
A Classmate’s Invitation: The Journey That Led to Arrest
The life of Badar Khan Suri, an Indian scholar, took an unexpected turn when he received an invitation from a classmate 15 years ago. This invitation set him on a path that now finds him facing deportation from the US, accused of having links to Hamas. It was a seemingly innocuous offer – to join an international aid convoy heading to Gaza, a Palestinian territory under the control of the armed Islamist group Hamas and blockaded by Israel. For a student of conflict studies, this was a golden opportunity to witness firsthand one of the world’s most complex and volatile disputes. Who knew that this journey would eventually lead to serious accusations and legal battles in a foreign land?
The classmate’s invitation came on a summer evening as Mr. Suri was outside his department at Delhi’s Jamia Millia Islamia university. The convoy comprised over 150 people from various Asian countries. For Mr. Suri, it was a chance to observe the contentious situation up close. Little did he know that this trip would alter the course of his life forever. What started as an academic pursuit soon entangled him in a web of international politics and accusations. This journey, meant to broaden his understanding of global conflicts, has now placed him at the center of one.
Mr. Suri accepted the invitation without hesitation, recalled his classmate. During this trip, he met Mapheze Saleh, a Palestinian woman who would later become his wife. She was the daughter of a former Hamas adviser. Their meeting marked the beginning of a personal connection that would further complicate Mr. Suri’s situation in the years to come. The decision to join the convoy, driven by academic curiosity and a desire to witness the conflict firsthand, inadvertently set the stage for the challenges he now faces in the United States.
From Delhi to the US: A Scholar’s Path
After nearly a decade in Delhi, Mr. Suri and Ms. Saleh moved to the US, where he joined Georgetown University as a postdoctoral fellow. He spent almost three years living in Virginia, immersed in his academic pursuits. However, his life took a dramatic turn on the evening of March 17 when the police arrived at his door and arrested him. Three days later, Tricia McLaughlin, the assistant secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, announced via Twitter that Mr. Suri was being detained due to his “close connections to a known or suspected terrorist, a senior adviser to Hamas.” Mr. Suri has vehemently denied these allegations, maintaining his innocence and insisting that his academic work and personal life have been unfairly scrutinized.
Mr. Suri’s arrest occurred amidst President Donald Trump’s crackdown on illegal immigrants and activists involved in pro-Palestinian campus protests. These protests were accused of fueling antisemitism and supporting Hamas, which the US designates as a terrorist organization. It’s important to note that India does not ban Hamas, highlighting the differing perspectives on the group between the two nations. The timing of his arrest and the political climate in the US have added layers of complexity to his case. The allegations against him have sparked debate and raised questions about the extent to which academic and personal connections can be used to justify such actions.
While a US court has blocked Mr. Suri’s deportation, the Trump administration’s allegations have sent shockwaves through his circles back home in India. Those who know him describe him as a soft-spoken, shy, and hardworking student with a deep understanding of global issues. His classmates and teachers find the accusations of him having ties with Hamas to be far-fetched and unsubstantiated. The contrast between the allegations and the character of Mr. Suri as perceived by those who know him has fueled disbelief and concern among his peers and mentors.
Historical Ties and Shifting Alliances
India has historically been a supporter of the Palestinian cause. However, in recent years, it has also developed close and strategic ties with Israel, often refraining from criticizing Israel’s actions. This delicate balancing act in India’s foreign policy underscores the complexities of the region and the challenges of navigating international relations. The allegations against Mr. Suri have sparked discussions about the implications of these shifting alliances and the potential impact on individuals caught in the crossfire.
Despite India’s growing relationship with Israel, Mr. Suri’s professors from Jamia assert that “by no stretch of imagination can Suri be associated with anything unlawful.” They emphasize that having an opinion on the ongoing conflict is not a crime and that, as a conflict studies scholar, it is within his professional purview to share his analysis of the war in Gaza. These statements highlight the importance of academic freedom and the right to express informed opinions on complex geopolitical issues without fear of reprisal.
Those who accompanied Mr. Suri on the trip to Gaza share similar views. Feroze Mithiborwala, one of the organizers of the caravan, remembers Mr. Suri as an intelligent and secular young man. “He always took a secular stance in our discussions. He was not some right-wing Islamist type of character,” Mr. Mithiborwala stated. These testimonials from individuals who interacted with Mr. Suri during his formative experiences paint a picture of a scholar dedicated to understanding and analyzing conflict, rather than engaging in unlawful activities.
A Journey Through Conflict Zones
The journey to Gaza began in December 2010 from Delhi. Due to Pakistan’s refusal to grant the group a travel permit, the convoy had to travel through Iran, Turkey, Syria, and Egypt before finally reaching Gaza. This route, largely covered by bus, offered a wealth of experience for a student of peace and conflict studies. The exposure to different cultures, political landscapes, and humanitarian challenges provided Mr. Suri with invaluable insights into the complexities of the region. The trip not only shaped his academic understanding but also deepened his empathy for the people affected by the conflict.
Throughout the trip, Mr. Suri was deeply moved by the suffering he witnessed in Gaza. He focused on providing aid to the widowed and elderly, demonstrating his compassion and concern for the vulnerable populations affected by the conflict. This firsthand experience solidified his commitment to understanding the human cost of conflict and seeking peaceful solutions. The caravan, in many ways, “brought Mr. Suri closer to the Palestinian cause,” but his interest remained largely academic, according to a classmate who was in touch with him until days before his arrest.
The classmate emphasized that Mr. Suri’s interest was primarily driven by his academic pursuits and his desire to understand the complexities of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. While he was undoubtedly moved by the suffering he witnessed, his approach remained analytical and focused on seeking knowledge and understanding. This distinction is crucial in understanding Mr. Suri’s motivations and the nature of his engagement with the Palestinian cause.
Marriage and a Move to the US
The second and last time Mr. Suri visited Gaza was for his wedding with Ms. Saleh in 2013. Ms. Saleh, a US citizen, was working as a translator and volunteer in Gaza at the time. Her father, who resides in the US, is a former adviser to Ismail Haniyeh, the Hamas leader killed by Israel last year, according to a statement she submitted in court. In 2010, her father left the Gaza government and “started the House of Wisdom in 2011 to encourage peace and conflict resolution in Gaza,” the statement adds.
When Ms. Saleh and Mr. Suri first met, they did not interact much. However, they reconnected a few months later, according to a friend who accompanied him on the caravan. Their wedding made headlines in India, and the couple moved back to Delhi, where they lived for approximately eight years. Ms. Saleh pursued a master’s degree at Jamia and later worked at the Qatar embassy. In 2023, Mr. Suri moved to the US, followed by Ms. Saleh. He was just months away from completing his fellowship when he was arrested. His marriage to Ms. Saleh, and her family’s connections, have become central to the allegations against him.
Mr. Suri’s father expressed his pain and disbelief at his son’s situation. “He has no connections with Hamas or Palestine [other than his marriage]. His sin is that he is married to a Palestinian woman,” he stated. He remains hopeful that his son will not be deported, emphasizing that the accusations are merely allegations and that there is no concrete evidence of any wrongdoing. The case has raised questions about the extent to which familial connections can be used to justify accusations of terrorism and the potential for bias in such investigations.
Awaiting Justice: The Future of a Scholar
The arrest of Badar Khan Suri has ignited a complex debate surrounding academic freedom, international relations, and the impact of political climate on individual lives. As the legal proceedings unfold, the world watches to see whether justice will prevail and whether a scholar’s pursuit of knowledge and understanding will be unfairly conflated with accusations of terrorism. The case serves as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by individuals navigating the complexities of a globalized world, where personal connections and academic pursuits can be misinterpreted and weaponized in the pursuit of political agendas.