Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian activist at Columbia University, was recently arrested following pro-Palestinian protests. His marriage to Noor Adballah has brought him to the U.S. from Syria, where he previously worked as a social worker. Khalil faces potential deportation while expecting his first child.
Mahmoud Khalil is a notable Palestinian activist and legal resident of the United States, currently married to American dentist Noor Adballah. Recently, he was arrested in connection with pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University, an event described by former President Donald Trump as being “antisemitic” and “anti-America.” Trump indicated that Khalil’s arrest is part of a broader effort to target student activists engaged in advocating for Palestine across the nation.
Khalil was born in a Palestinian refugee camp in Syria and moved to the United States in 2022, originally obtaining a student visa before transitioning to permanent residency. He has a background as a social worker in Syria and aspired to study aviation engineering before being affected by the civil war. Khalil documented his challenges in a 2017 essay about the impact of the conflict on educational opportunities.
While in Beirut, he engaged with a non-profit focused on Syrian children’s education and became close to Adballah during her volunteering efforts there. They navigated a long-distance relationship for seven years before marrying in New York in 2023. Khalil also served as a program manager at the British Embassy’s Syria Office, overseeing the esteemed Chevening Program.
He recently completed his master’s degree from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs, although he has yet to officially receive his diploma. Khalil and his wife are anticipating the birth of their first child in April, raising concerns about the impact of his arrest on their family. Adballah expressed her fears, stating the potential devastation of meeting their child “behind a glass screen.”
In summary, Mahmoud Khalil is a Palestinian activist who has recently been arrested amid pro-Palestinian demonstrations at Columbia University. Originally from a refugee camp in Syria, he has overcome significant challenges to establish a life in the United States with his wife, Noor Adballah. As they await the arrival of their first child, Khalil’s legal status remains uncertain, heightening concerns for their family’s future.
Original Source: www.hindustantimes.com
