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Anti-Israel activist Mahmoud Khalil announced on Monday that he sued Columbia University, where he attended and organized several anti-Israel protests, for what he claimed was years of discrimination.
In the lawsuit, Khalil alleged that Columbia University “fostered an environment of hostility towards students holding pro-Palestine views, who were perceived as being Muslims, Arabs, non-citizens, and/or immigrants, and others for their association with those students” based on its treatment and surveillance of students like Khalil.
“This case concerns Defendants’ deliberate indifference towards and failure to respond to instances of severe, persistent, and coordinated harassment directed towards Mahmoud Khalil, Mohammad Ibrahim Zubairi, and other members of SIPA Palestine Working Group due to their pro-Palestine advocacy and affiliation, their perceived shared ancestry as Arab and/or Muslim students, their national origin, and/or their status as non-citizen immigrants, as well as Defendants’ subsequent retaliation against Mr. Khalil, Mr. Zubairi, and [Palestine Working Group] and its members for reporting that harassment,” the lawsuit read.
ANTI-ISRAEL ACTIVIST MAHMOUD KHALIL CLAIMS OCT 7 TERROR ATTACK WAS ‘DESPERATE ATTEMPT’ FOR GAZA TO BE HEARD
Mahmoud Khalil attends a vigil and protest for Gaza outside Columbia University in New York City, Oct. 7, 2025. (Adam Gray/Getty Images)
The lawsuit also alleged that Columbia University’s lack of response to actions against Khalil and other activists “directly led” to Khalil’s detainment and attempted deportation in 2025 by the Trump administration.
“Throughout his detainment, Defendants refused to correct disinformation surrounding the nature of Mr. Khalil’s role as a negotiator and mediator during the student protests, allowing a false narrative about his conduct and role to persist and further enabling peer-on-peer harassment of other Palestinian students and students with perceived shared Arab and/or Muslim ancestry,” the lawsuit read.
In a statement to Digital, a Columbia University spokesperson said the school could not comment on pending litigation but reiterated the school’s goals of protecting students from discrimination.
“Creating a campus environment where every member of our community feels welcome, supported, and safe is fundamental to who we are as a University. It is also a responsibility we take seriously. Columbia is committed to protecting our community from discrimination and harassment, and responding promptly and appropriately when concerns arise,” the spokesperson said.
Digital reached out to Khalil’s attorneys for comment but did not immediately receive a response.
ANTI-ISRAEL ACTIVIST MAHMOUD KHALIL CLAIMS IMMIGRATION DETENTION ‘FELT LIKE KIDNAPPING’
Mahmoud Khalil took part in several anti-Israel protests at Columbia University after the Oct. 7 attacks. (Selcuk Acar/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Khalil was initially arrested in 2025 at his university-owned apartment in New York City over his activism at Columbia University.
Homeland Security Investigations, a division of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), told him at the time they were revoking his green card, according to his attorney, Amy Greer. He was later transferred to a detention center in Louisiana where he was held for 104 days before a federal judge in New Jersey ordered his release.
Khalil later suffered a setback in his federal case when a U.S. appeals panel ruled that the New Jersey judge overstepped his authority by ordering his release. In a 2-1 decision, the panel found the case must proceed through the immigration court system before it can be challenged in federal court.
NEWLY RELEASED MAHMOUD KHALIL SPOTTED BACK AT ANTI-ISRAEL PROTEST AT COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY
Mahmoud Khalil alleged Columbia University’s lack of response to “harassment” against him directly led to his detainment by the Trump administration. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
In July, Khalil filed another lawsuit claiming members of the Trump administration conspired with private pro-Israel organizations like the Heritage Foundation, Canary Mission and Betar to arrest and deport activists like himself in violation of the Ku Klux Klan Act.
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“Collectively, the conspirators’ actions, motivated by their shared unlawful purpose and animus, sought to terrorize and make an example of Mr. Khalil and other non-citizen Palestinians or supporters of Palestinians (sometimes collectively referred to as “Pro-Palestinian” individuals) in order to intimidate and silence the growing movement for Palestinian rights and political freedom, in a manner the KKK Act was designed to proscribe when enacted during Reconstruction,” that lawsuit alleged.
‘ Michael Dorgan contributed to this report.
