Mayor Zohran Mamdani hosted Mahmoud Khalil, a controversial anti-Israel activist, along with his wife and young son for dinner at Gracie Mansion on Sunday in observance of the holy month of Ramadan.
In a Monday Instagram post, Mamdani expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to break fast with Khalil, Noor, and their son Deen, as they commemorated the one-year anniversary of Khalil's detention. The post included a photo of the gathering, featuring Mamdani's wife, Rama Duwaji, holding a plate of food beside Khalil as he enjoyed his meal.
Khalil, a Syrian-born activist and former Columbia University graduate student, was taken into custody by ICE early last year and is facing deportation following accusations from the Trump administration of fraud in his green card application. The administration alleges that Khalil's support for Hamas could pose a threat to U.S. foreign policy interests, utilizing a seldom-used statute to justify his potential deportation.
Reflecting on Khalil's challenging year, Mamdani commended his resilience and the support he received from the community. Despite facing adversity, Khalil's release from a federal detention facility in Louisiana was eventually secured, allowing him to reunite with his son, who was born while Khalil was in ICE custody and is set to celebrate his first birthday on April 21.
Asserting Khalil's place in New York City, Mamdani has been an outspoken advocate for his case, emphasizing the importance of free speech in advocating for human rights. The mayor has condemned the treatment of Khalil as part of a broader assault on freedom of expression, particularly in the context of defending human rights policies.
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