In brief
Sami Hamdi, a British Muslim commentator, arrived back in the UK after being detained in a U.S. immigration center. He criticized the U.S. government's actions as an attack on freedom of speech and is contemplating legal action, indicating his detention was connected to his views on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Despite the challenges, he expressed gratitude for the support he received from the U.S. judiciary in overturning his detention.
LONDON (AP) — British political commentator Sami Hamdi said Thursday on his arrival back in the U.K. that he is considering suing U.S. authorities for his detention in an immigration center over what he claims were his views on Gaza and Israel.
Hamdi's remarks follow his recent return from a speaking tour in the U.S., where he was arrested on October 26 by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). He had addressed an annual gala for the Sacramento chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations the day before his arrest.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security stated that Hamdi's visa was revoked and cited accusations of his support for Hamas-led attacks on Israel, which escalated on October 7, 2023.
Hamdi declared, This wasn’t just an attack on me; it was an attack on the freedoms of ordinary Americans and citizens worldwide, as he spoke to reporters near Heathrow Airport.
He refuted claims of any wrongdoing, asserting, I did nothing illegal in the U.S. Everything was within the visa. The visa was revoked because of my advocacy for Palestine. It was revoked because of advocacy for Gaza. He expressed concern over the broader implications of his detention, noting how similar actions might stifle free speech.
Moreover, Hamdi reflected on the support he received, stating, I won this case; the extremists failed to silence my voice; they failed to remove my freedom of speech. America stood with me. While contemplating a lawsuit against American authorities, he acknowledged the role of 'cool heads' within the State Department and the judicial system in his case, indicating that further legal action is under consideration but not definitive.
