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Palestinian student Mahmoud Khalil has described himself as a political prisoner in his first public remarks since his detention by US immigration authorities, who are seeking to deport him for his role in pro-Palestinian protests.
In a letter made public on Tuesday, he said his arrest was a “direct consequence of exercising my right to free speech as I advocated for a free Palestine and an end to the genocide in Gaza”.
“My name is Mahmoud Khalil and I am a political prisoner,” he said, claiming his detention was indicative of anti-Palestinian racism.
The arrest of Mr Khalil, a US permanent resident and graduate of Columbia University, has been condemned by rights groups as an assault on free speech and due process. More than 100 Democratic legislators from the US House of Representatives questioned the legality of his detention in a letter to the administration of US President Donald Trump.
Justice Department lawyers say Mr Khalil, 30, was subject to deportation because Secretary of State Marco Rubio determined his US presence could have “adverse foreign policy consequences”.
“I am writing to you from a detention facility in Louisiana where I wake to cold mornings and spend long days bearing witness to the quiet injustices under way against a great many people precluded from the protections of the law,” Mr Khalil said in the letter, which was dictated over the phone.
He said his arrest on March 8 had seen agents from the Department of Homeland Security take him into custody without a warrant, handcuff him and force him into an unmarked car.
He drew parallels between his detention and what he called “Israel’s use of administrative detention – imprisonment without trial or charge – to strip Palestinians of their rights”.
“For Palestinians, imprisonment without due process is commonplace,” he said.
He also railed against US foreign policy on the Gaza war. “The US has continued to supply Israel with weapons to kill Palestinians and prevented international intervention. For decades, anti-Palestinian racism has driven efforts to expand US laws and practices that are used to violently repress Palestinians, Arab Americans and other communities. That is precisely why I am being targeted,” he said.
Mr Khalil added that it was his “moral imperative to persist in the struggle” for the freedom of Palestinians.
He also criticised officials at Columbia University who he said “enabled” his arrest. They “laid the groundwork for the US government to target me by arbitrarily disciplining pro-Palestinian students and allowing viral doxing – based on racism and disinformation – to go unchecked”, he said.
Mr Khalil's lawyers have called for his immediate release. He became a US permanent resident last year and his wife is eight months pregnant.
His arrest has sparked protests in the US, including in New York on Tuesday when hundreds gathered at Times Square demanding his release.
Mr Trump has vowed to deport pro-Palestinian activists who have taken part in protests on US college campuses against Israel's war in Gaza. He has alleged the protesters are anti-Semitic and support Hamas militants.
Pro-Palestinian advocates, including some Jewish groups, say their criticism of Israel's assault on Gaza is wrongly conflated with anti-Semitism by their critics while their support for Palestinian rights is also falsely conflated with support for Hamas militants.
The US government has not elaborated on how Mr Khalil could harm US foreign policy. Mr Trump, without evidence, has accused him of supporting Hamas. Mr Khalil's legal team says he has no links to Hamas.
“The Trump administration is targeting me as part of a broader strategy to suppress dissent,” Mr Khalil said. “Visa holders, green-card carriers and citizens alike will all be targeted for their political beliefs.”
Traits of Chinese zodiac animals
Tiger:independent, successful, volatile
Rat:witty, creative, charming
Ox:diligent, perseverent, conservative
Rabbit:gracious, considerate, sensitive
Dragon:prosperous, brave, rash
Snake:calm, thoughtful, stubborn
Horse:faithful, energetic, carefree
Sheep:easy-going, peacemaker, curious
Monkey:family-orientated, clever, playful
Rooster:honest, confident, pompous
Dog:loyal, kind, perfectionist
Boar:loving, tolerant, indulgent
The specs
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Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
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The full list of 2020 Brit Award nominees (winners in bold):
British group
Coldplay
Foals
Bring me the Horizon
D-Block Europe
Bastille
British Female
Mabel
Freya Ridings
FKA Twigs
Charli xcx
Mahalia
British male
Harry Styles
Lewis Capaldi
Dave
Michael Kiwanuka
Stormzy
Best new artist
Aitch
Lewis Capaldi
Dave
Mabel
Sam Fender
Best song
Ed Sheeran and Justin Bieber - I Don’t Care
Mabel - Don’t Call Me Up
Calvin Harrison and Rag’n’Bone Man - Giant
Dave - Location
Mark Ronson feat. Miley Cyrus - Nothing Breaks Like A Heart
AJ Tracey - Ladbroke Grove
Lewis Capaldi - Someone you Loved
Tom Walker - Just You and I
Sam Smith and Normani - Dancing with a Stranger
Stormzy - Vossi Bop
International female
Ariana Grande
Billie Eilish
Camila Cabello
Lana Del Rey
Lizzo
International male
Bruce Springsteen
Burna Boy
Tyler, The Creator
Dermot Kennedy
Post Malone
Best album
Stormzy - Heavy is the Head
Michael Kiwanuka - Kiwanuka
Lewis Capaldi - Divinely Uninspired to a Hellish Extent
Dave - Psychodrama
Harry Styles - Fine Line
Rising star
Celeste
Joy Crookes
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MATCH INFO
Hoffenheim v Liverpool
Uefa Champions League play-off, first leg
Location: Rhein-Neckar-Arena, Sinsheim
Kick-off: Tuesday, 10.45pm (UAE)
Brief scoreline:
Toss: South Africa, elected to bowl first
England (311-8): Stokes 89, Morgan 57, Roy 54, Root 51; Ngidi 3-66
South Africa (207): De Kock 68, Van der Dussen 50; Archer 3-27, Stokes 2-12
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Engine: 3.5-litre V6
Transmission: six-speed manual
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Torque: 370Nm
Speed: 0-100km/h 3.9 seconds
Price: Dh230,000
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Gulf Men's League final
Dubai Hurricanes 24-12 Abu Dhabi Harlequins
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
If you go...
Etihad Airways flies from Abu Dhabi to Kuala Lumpur, from about Dh3,600. Air Asia currently flies from Kuala Lumpur to Terengganu, with Berjaya Hotels & Resorts planning to launch direct chartered flights to Redang Island in the near future. Rooms at The Taaras Beach and Spa Resort start from 680RM (Dh597).
FA CUP FINAL
Manchester City 6
(D Silva 26', Sterling 38', 81', 87', De Bruyne 61', Jesus 68')
Watford 0
Man of the match: Bernardo Silva (Manchester City)
KEY DEVELOPMENTS IN MARITIME DISPUTE
2000: Israel withdraws from Lebanon after nearly 30 years without an officially demarcated border. The UN establishes the Blue Line to act as the frontier.
2007: Lebanon and Cyprus define their respective exclusive economic zones to facilitate oil and gas exploration. Israel uses this to define its EEZ with Cyprus
2011: Lebanon disputes Israeli-proposed line and submits documents to UN showing different EEZ. Cyprus offers to mediate without much progress.
2018: Lebanon signs first offshore oil and gas licencing deal with consortium of France’s Total, Italy’s Eni and Russia’s Novatek.
2018-2019: US seeks to mediate between Israel and Lebanon to prevent clashes over oil and gas resources.
UAE squad
Esha Oza (captain), Al Maseera Jahangir, Emily Thomas, Heena Hotchandani, Indhuja Nandakumar, Katie Thompson, Lavanya Keny, Mehak Thakur, Michelle Botha, Rinitha Rajith, Samaira Dharnidharka, Siya Gokhale, Sashikala Silva, Suraksha Kotte, Theertha Satish (wicketkeeper) Udeni Kuruppuarachchige, Vaishnave Mahesh.
UAE tour of Zimbabwe
All matches in Bulawayo
Friday, Sept 26 – First ODI
Sunday, Sept 28 – Second ODI
Tuesday, Sept 30 – Third ODI
Thursday, Oct 2 – Fourth ODI
Sunday, Oct 5 – First T20I
Monday, Oct 6 – Second T20I
