Crime & Justice
Mahmoud Khalil sues Columbia University over failure to protect pro-Palestinian students
September 15, 2026 at 04:00 AM
Coverage
4 reports · 2 in Arabic, 2 in English · over 16 hours
AJAl Jazeera English
Why is pro-Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil suing Columbia University?
(opens the publisher’s site)
AJAl Jazeera Arabic
الفلسطيني محمود خليل يقاضي جامعة كولومبيا لتجاهلها المضايقات
(opens the publisher’s site)
MAMasrawy
دعوى قضائية تتهم جامعة كولومبيا بعدم حماية الطلاب المؤيدين للفلسطينيين
(opens the publisher’s site)
TGThe Guardian
Mahmoud Khalil sues Columbia University over years of alleged anti-Palestinian discrimination
(opens the publisher’s site)Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil has filed a federal lawsuit against Columbia University, accusing it of ignoring persistent harassment of pro-Palestinian students.
- Khalil, the student group for Palestine at Columbia's School of International and Public Affairs, and its president Mohamed Zubairy filed the suit in Manhattan federal court on Monday.
- Khalil said at a press conference announcing the lawsuit that Columbia showed "bias against Palestinians" rooted in every department and supported by its Board of Trustees.
- The lawsuit alleges Columbia violated federal civil rights law by failing to protect students from ongoing threats and harassment tied to their pro-Palestinian advocacy.
- Khalil filed a separate lawsuit against Columbia in March 2025, days after his arrest by ICE agents, challenging the university's release of student disciplinary records to a House committee.
- The lawsuit also names Columbia's School of International and Public Affairs dean Keren Yarhi-Milo as a defendant.
- The suit alleges Columbia failed to address 'severe, persistent, and coordinated harassment,' including doxing campaigns against Khalil and other pro-Palestinian students.