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Hindu advocacy body slams targeting of academics over pro-Palestine stance
Hindus for Human Rights issued a statement in light of the recent deportation threats against Indian-origin students.
Hindus for Human Rights (HfHR) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization founded in 2019. / HfHR
Hindus for Human Rights (HfHR) has strongly condemned the recent targeting of international academics, researchers, and graduate students in the United States for expressing solidarity with Palestine. In a statement released on Mar.21, the organization denounced the detention, visa revocations, and deportation threats against scholars, calling it an attack on free speech and a broader effort to suppress political dissent.
The crackdown has impacted individuals such as Mahmoud Khalil, Leqaa Kordia, Badar Khan Suri, and Ranjani Srinivasan—two of whom are of Indian origin and who have faced detainment and abrupt visa cancellations. HfHR argues that these actions are not about enforcing immigration laws but about “punishing dissent” and “criminalizing conscience”.
“This is not just about Palestine—it is a calculated effort to see how far the state can go in criminalizing political speech, judicial advocacy, and any form of resistance against power,” said Pranay Somayajula, HfHR’s director of outreach. “If they succeed in repressing Palestine solidarity, they will use the same tactics against others who challenge injustice.”
Weaponization of immigration enforcement
The organization expressed alarm at the growing use of immigration enforcement as a tool to stifle political activism, particularly targeting those advocating for Palestinian rights. HfHR called for the immediate release of detained scholars, including Badar Khan Suri and Mahmoud Khalil, and the reinstatement of revoked visas.
HfHR also criticized the role of media figures in exacerbating these crackdowns. The organization accused certain far-right Hindu supremacist voices of betraying their own communities by supporting the persecution of South Asians speaking out for Palestinian rights. They said, “We are especially disgusted by the far-right Hindu supremacist media figures and online accounts that have not only joined in these attacks, but are actively sacrificing members of their own broader community in service of a reactionary agenda.”
Academic freedom under threat
The statement warned that increasing visa restrictions on scholars, especially those from South Asia and the Middle East jeopardizes the free exchange of ideas essential to academic life. HfHR noted that some international scholars have faced sudden visa cancellations upon arrival in the U.S., leading to deportation without due process.
“The academic ecosystem thrives on international collaboration,” the statement read. “These visa revocations not only harm individuals but also fray the trust that undergirds joint research, cross-border conferences, and global scholarship.”
The organization pointed to the broader implications of such policies, arguing that suppressing dissent today could pave the way for broader attacks on academic freedom and political speech.
Call for action
HfHR urged universities, professional organizations, and civil society groups to unite in defense of academic freedom. The organization called for the reinstatement of wrongfully revoked visas and fairer immigration policies that do not target scholars based on their political beliefs.
“At Hindus for Human Rights, we believe that true democracy flourishes when freedom of thought and expression are protected,” the statement concluded. “We call upon communities of all faiths and backgrounds to stand firm in solidarity with those targeted by these unjust measures—not just as a matter of free speech, but as part of the global movement for justice in Palestine.”
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