Civil Rights Groups Condemn US Over Sami Hamdi’s Arrest

U.S. immigration authorities detained British political commentator Sami Hamdi during his national speaking tour, informing him he would be deported instead of being allowed to complete his scheduled events.

Source CNN

Hamdi had just spoken at a Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) event in California, where he criticized the Israeli government’s actions. CAIR condemned his arrest as “a blatant attack on free speech” and “retaliation for political expression.”

The Department of Homeland Security justified the detention by citing “national security concerns,” but rights advocates argue it reflects growing intolerance toward Muslim journalists and foreign critics of U.S. and Israeli policies.