“What kind of country do we want to be?”
A COLUMN By: Johanna Elattar, image from Y+
In the United States, the right to protest and speak out against injustice is not just a constitutional privilege—it’s a cornerstone of our democracy. But what happens when the very system meant to protect these freedoms becomes the tool of oppression? The recent detention of Mohsen Mahdawi, a Palestinian-American student at Columbia University, marks a disturbing shift towards the criminalization of activism, particularly for those who challenge U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East.
Mohsen Mahdawi’s arrest by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on April 14, 2025, was not due to any criminal activity or threat to public safety. Instead, it was rooted in his advocacy for Palestinian rights and his outspoken stance against Israel’s military actions in Gaza. Mahdawi, a lawful permanent resident since 2015, has long been a champion for human rights, founding the Palestinian Student Union at Columbia and organizing peaceful protests to raise awareness about the plight of Palestinians.
Yet, instead of celebrating the right to free speech and peaceful assembly, the U.S. government has decided to treat Mahdawi as a criminal. His arrest is part of a broader, deeply concerning trend of silencing dissent, particularly pro-Palestinian voices on college campuses. Under Executive Order 14188, the administration has blurred the lines between pro-Palestinian activism and antisemitism, conflating support for Palestinian rights with hate speech. This order allows for the targeting and detention of activists like Mahdawi, who pose no threat to public safety but rather challenge the status quo.
This isn’t just an issue for Mahdawi. His case is emblematic of a larger movement toward the suppression of political activism. It’s part of a broader narrative where activists, particularly those involved in social justice movements, are increasingly being targeted for expressing views that do not align with mainstream political or foreign policy agendas. Whether it’s the Black Lives Matter movement, environmental protests, or advocacy for refugees, those who stand up for justice are being treated as enemies of the state rather than the conscience of it.
What’s more troubling is that Mahdawi’s arrest took place during a routine U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) interview—an event that should have been straightforward. The fact that his detention occurred in such an ordinary context shows how deeply ingrained political repression has become. When activists can be detained in such a manner, the very concept of civil liberties is put into question. It sends a chilling message to all of us: express dissent, and you may find yourself on the wrong side of the law.
The legal battle surrounding Mahdawi’s case is ongoing, and his team has filed a habeas corpus petition in an attempt to prevent his deportation. His case has already gained national attention, with Vermont’s congressional delegation condemning the detention as “immoral, inhumane, and illegal.” Yet, his story is just one in a growing list of individuals who are being silenced for their beliefs. For every Mohsen Mahdawi, there are countless others whose voices are being quashed in similar ways.
What this moment requires is not just legal action but a societal reckoning. If we allow the detention of peaceful activists to become normalized, we abandon the very principles of democracy and free speech that we hold dear. The question is not just about Mahdawi—it’s about what kind of country we want to be. Are we a nation that stands for justice, free speech, and the protection of the oppressed? Or will we allow those in power to continue silencing the voices of those who demand accountability?
We must be vigilant in our defense of civil liberties, especially when those liberties are under threat. Mahdawi’s case is not just an isolated incident; it is a symptom of a broader effort to curtail activism and dissent in America. It is incumbent upon all of us to speak out against this injustice and to demand that our government respect the rights of all individuals to speak their truth, no matter how unpopular or controversial.
In the end, the true test of any society is how it treats those who challenge it. If we continue to target and detain activists, we will lose more than just Mohsen Mahdawi’s voice—we will lose our own.
Johanna is a Hornell NY writer who has an international perspective and a love for local stories. You can reach her anytime, americangrrl70@gmail.com
