Indian Scholar Badar Khan Suri Recounts Harsh Treatment in U.S. Detention
Washington, D.C., May 16, 2025 – Badar Khan Suri, an Indian postdoctoral scholar at Georgetown University, has detailed severe mistreatment during his two-month detention by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), following his arrest on March 17, 2025, for alleged ties to Hamas. Released on May 14, 2025, after a federal judge’s order, Suri described conditions amounting to psychological and physical hardship, including denial of food and water during Ramadan, forced use of used clothing, and sleep deprivation. His case, covered by BBC, Hindustan Times, and Middle East Eye, has sparked outrage over the Trump administration’s crackdown on pro-Palestinian scholars and raised questions about First Amendment violations.
Background of Suri’s Arrest
Badar Khan Suri, 41, a postdoctoral fellow at Georgetown’s Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding, was detained outside his Arlington, Virginia, home by masked DHS agents. The Trump administration accused him of “spreading Hamas propaganda” and having “close connections to a known or suspected terrorist,” citing his wife Mapheze Saleh’s father, Ahmed Yousef, a former Hamas adviser. Suri, who entered the U.S. legally on a J-1 visa in 2022, denied the allegations, with his lawyers arguing he was targeted for his wife’s Palestinian heritage and their protected speech on Gaza.
The arrest followed reports by pro-Israel groups, including the Middle East Forum, which flagged Suri and Saleh’s Gaza ties. Tricia McLaughlin, DHS Assistant Secretary, claimed on X that Suri promoted antisemitism, prompting Secretary of State Marco Rubio to deem him deportable under the Immigration and Nationality Act. A federal judge blocked his deportation on March 20, and after a May 14 ruling by Judge Patricia Tolliver Giles, Suri was released from Texas’s Prairieland Detention Center to return to his family in Virginia.
Suri’s Account of Detention Conditions
Suri’s lawyers, backed by the ACLU and the Center for Constitutional Rights, filed motions detailing his “harrowing” treatment, which they argue constitutes torture or cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment under international human rights standards. Key allegations include:
- Multiple Transfers: Over four days, Suri was moved across five facilities in Virginia, Louisiana, and Texas, covering over 1,000 miles, without access to his family or lawyer. Transfers began hours after his arrest during Ramadan iftar.
- Denial of Basic Needs: During Ramadan, Suri was repeatedly denied food and water to break his fast, exacerbating physical distress while observing religious practices.
- Degrading Conditions: At Prairieland Detention Center, Suri was forced to wear used underwear and a red “high-risk” uniform, typically reserved for security threats. He slept on a plastic cot on the floor in an overcrowded cell, with a television blaring at full volume for 21 hours daily, causing sleep deprivation.
- Psychological Impact: Suri’s wife, Mapheze Saleh, described the detention’s toll on their three children (a 9-year-old son and 5-year-old twins), who were traumatized by their father’s absence. Saleh told Zeteo News, “Imagine that your day and night are the same, because they will never switch off the lights in the detention center,” highlighting the dehumanizing environment.
- Religious Discrimination: The ACLU reported that Suri faced religious discrimination, with agents ignoring his Ramadan observances, a claim echoed in a Zeteo News video showing his arrest post-iftar.
Suri, speaking to media after his release, expressed relief but emphasized the ordeal’s impact, stating, “I was glad to be released,” while focusing on reuniting with his family. His colleague, Nader Hashemi, called the release “a victory for democracy,” noting Suri’s low-profile academic focus on minority rights and peacebuilding.
Context and Allegations of Torture
Suri’s treatment aligns with broader concerns about ICE detention conditions, particularly under the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown. The ACLU and human rights groups argue that practices like prolonged sensory overload, denial of religious accommodations, and rapid transfers violate U.S. constitutional protections and international standards, such as the UN Convention Against Torture. While Suri’s lawyers haven’t formally labeled the treatment as “torture” in court, their filings describe conditions intended to “silence” and “punish” him for protected speech, raising Fifth Amendment due process concerns.
The Trump administration’s attempt to move Suri’s case to Texas, where conservative judges dominate, was criticized as “forum shopping” by attorneys Vishal Agraharkar and Hassan Ahmad. Judge Giles rejected the transfer, citing overcrowding claims as dubious and affirming Suri’s First Amendment rights, stating, “Speech regarding the conflict there and opposing Israel’s military campaign is likely protected political speech.”
Broader Implications
Suri’s case is part of a pattern targeting scholars and students for pro-Palestinian views, including Columbia’s Mahmoud Khalil and Ranjani Srinivasan, and Tufts’ Rumeysa Ozturk. Georgetown’s ACMCU condemned the arrest as an attack on academic freedom, with student Roudah Chaker calling Suri a “pillar” of the community. X posts reflect polarized sentiment: @zeteo_news and @democracynow highlighted “dehumanizing” conditions, while @ShelleyGldschmt framed Suri as a “pro-Hamas” threat.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs urged compliance with U.S. laws but offered no direct support, reflecting India’s delicate balance between Palestinian support and Israel ties. The case has fueled debates over free speech, with the ACLU warning that targeting noncitizens for political views sets a dangerous precedent.
Conclusion
Badar Khan Suri, released on May 14, 2025, recounted severe mistreatment in ICE detention, including denial of food, sleep deprivation, and degrading conditions, which his lawyers argue violated constitutional and human rights. Arrested for alleged Hamas ties linked to his wife’s family, Suri’s case highlights the Trump administration’s crackdown on pro-Palestinian academics. While free, he faces ongoing deportation proceedings in Texas. For updates, follow Hindustan Times (www.hindustantimes.com) or the ACLU (www.aclu.org).
Note: Information is based on sources as of May 16, 2025, at 12:34 AM IST. Verify with court filings or official statements for accuracy.