(NEW YORK)—In response to today’s hearing on the detention of Mahmoud Khalil, Jonathan Friedman, Sy Syms Managing Director of U.S. Free Expression Programs at PEN America, issued the following statement:
“PEN America is outraged and disappointed that a federal judge did not order Mahmoud Khalil’s immediate release this morning, instead keeping him detained in Louisiana where he has so far been out of reach of his counsel and family. By the Trump administration’s own admission, it is unambiguous that Khalil’s arrest and detention are in retaliation for his political speech. Keeping him in detention is a fundamental violation of his human rights and right to free expression, and it is particularly cruel to keep him detained while the court considers procedural questions. This case continues to raise alarm bells for free expression in the U.S., and is part of an existential threat the Trump administration is posing to our democracy.”
About PEN America
PEN America stands at the intersection of literature and human rights to protect free expression in the United States and worldwide. We champion the freedom to write, recognizing the power of the word to transform the world. Our mission is to unite writers and their allies to celebrate creative expression and defend the liberties that make it possible. Learn more at pen.org.
Contact: Malka Margolies, [email protected]