Dr. Noor Abdulla, the wife of Mahmoud Khalil, the pro-Palestinian activist detained in the United States, accepted his diploma on his behalf during an alternative graduation ceremony organized by the People’s University for Palestine, while holding their newborn child, born shortly after Khalil’s detention.
“Today we honor not only Mahmoud, but all the students who were wrongfully expelled and suspended for standing up in support of Palestinian rights,” said Dr. Noor Abdulla, who gave birth to the couple’s first child, Deen Khalil, last month in her husband’s absence.
At the event held in New York, she shared, “Every day since Deen was born, I understand more and more why the struggle matters,” expressing hope that “he grows up to be as brave as his father and as courageous as every single student here who has risked so much — your education, your safety, even your futures — to speak up for Palestine.”
She read out a message from Khalil, who has been in detention since March: “Thank you for holding me in your hearts today. It has been two months since I was taken from my family and from you, detained simply for speaking the truth about Palestine.”
She read out that Columbia University, “the place where we sought knowledge, justice, and truth,” chose silence instead of solidarity.
“It failed me, but you didn’t,” it added.
“You showed up. You reminded that while institutions may abandon us, the people never will. Today, I want to say congratulations. You’ve made it through, perhaps not with degrees but your voices, your integrity, and compassion intact. I’m endlessly proud to be among you, and I carry your love every day. Please keep carrying mine,” she shared.
This came after Mahmoud Khalil was detained on March 8, 2025, and has remained imprisoned in a Louisiana ICE detention center, preventing him from participating in Columbia University’s official graduation ceremonies.
Khalil, 30, was arrested on March 8 at the university-owned apartment building in New York City where he lived with his wife.
The Columbia University graduate student, who led pro-Palestinian protests there last year, was detained after Secretary of State Marco Rubio determined that Khalil had engaged in “antisemitic protests and disruptive activities, which foster a hostile environment for Jewish students in the U.S.”
Mahmoud Khalil was pursuing a Master’s degree at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) at the time of his detention.
Earlier this month, a Louisiana immigration judge ruled that Khalil can be deported.
