The following statement was released by Pax Christi International. Use this link to download a PDF version.
Brussels, March 14, 2025
Pax Christi International is deeply concerned by recent political decisions taken by the United States, which risk undermining fundamental freedoms and jeopardising efforts towards a just and lasting peace in the Holy Land. At a time when global leadership and international solidarity are paramount, these actions represent a troubling shift away from a respect for human rights towards an environment of repression and censorship.
The detention of Palestinian student activist Mahmoud Khalil by the US Department of Homeland Security is alarming. Khalil, a committed advocate for peace and human rights, served as a lead negotiator during the Gaza Solidarity Encampment at Columbia University last spring.1 His detention raises grave concerns about the suppression of fundamental freedoms, particularly the right to free expression. Silencing those who speak out against injustice does not contribute to peace: rather, it deepens division and prolongs suffering. A just and lasting peace can only be built on dialogue, not on the suppression of those who seek it.
Khalil previously worked as a programme manager at the Syria Office in the British embassy in Beirut from 2018 to 2022. He was responsible for managing the Syria Chevening Program, a prestigious UK government international scholarship scheme, as well as working with the Conflict, Stability, and Security Fund, for which he underwent a prior rigorous vetting process.2
Pax Christi International urges the US government to reconsider its course of action. The immediate release of Mahmoud Khalil is essential to reaffirming the fundamental principles of a thriving democracy and a commitment to justice and human rights.
As a movement rooted in active nonviolence and reconciliation, Pax Christi International stands in solidarity with all those working for justice and peace. We remain steadfast in our commitment to a world where dialogue prevails over division and where every person’s dignity is upheld. In these critical times, we urge the international community to stand together in defending fundamental freedoms and advocating for policies that foster peace rather than perpetuating injustice.
The abduction (let’s call it what it is) of Mahmoud Khalil has been made possible by the prostitution of American universities by their wealthy donors with the cooperation of patently corrupt regents, trustees, and campus administrators, especially presidents and chancellors. These same donors are the contributors to genocidal political action committees like the Israeli-American Political Action Committee (IPAC) that has infected most of our politicians, both Democrats and Republicans. Now everyone, both outside and inside academia, can witness how rotten our system of higher education has become since the start of the most recent process of extermination of Palestine.
David-Ross Gerling, PhD
Be alert! We are witnessing the unraveling of our democratic values. Silencing the voices of people with opposing views or challenging questions brings to mind the history of nations who were silent far too long. Remain alert!
Terry Barber, ofs