BRITISH LAWMAKERS CONDEMN SAMI HAMDI’S ARREST, CALL FOR HIS QUICK RELEASE

Wed 29 October 2025:

Five British politicians have “strongly condemned” the detention of Muslim journalist Sami Hamdi by US immigration authorities, in a signed statement calling on the UK Government to intervene and ensure his safe and immediate return home to his family.

The urgent call, published on social media on Monday evening, was signed by the four Muslim independent MPs: Adnan Hussain, Ayoub Khan, Iqbal Mohammed and Shockat Adam and former Labour MP Jeremy Corbyn.

The MPs expressed their deep alarm at the shock arrest of Hamdi and urged No.10 to take immediate action.

“We express our deep alarm at the detention of British citizen, journalist and political commentator Sami Hamdi by US immigration authorities while on a book/speaking tour in the United States.

“Mr Hamdi travelled to the US for public engagements, during which time his visa was revoked and he was taken into custody by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at San Francisco International Airport.

The statement released on X.

“We strongly condemn any use of immigration or national security mechanisms to punish individuals merely for exercising their right to free speech.

“We stand with Mr Hamdi, and urge the government to do all in its power to ensure his safe and immediate return home to his family.”

The MPs listed their demands, which included calls to: urgently seek formal consular access to Mr Hamdi and ensure his welfare, press the US authorities for a full and transparent explanation of the grounds for his detention and visa revocation, demand Mr Hamdi be returned home safely to his family without delay and highlight the UK government’s commitment to the protection of legitimate speech and political commentary.

Sami Hamdi is a popular British Muslim journalist who was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on 27 October while he was on a speaking tour of the States.

His visa has been revoked and Hamdi is now due for deportation back to the UK, however, it remains unclear when he will be released.

The sudden arrest of Hamdi, who has visited the US in the past without issue, came following an online smear campaign by far-right American Zionist propagandists and Islamophobes.

According to local sources, Hamdi is currently being detained at Golden State Annex in California and is being defended by a legal team reportedly made up of CAIR-California and attorney Hassan Ahmad who are “determining next steps.”

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Muslim backlash

His arrest sparked a tsunami of criticism from prominent Muslim figures and groups in both the US and UK, who say that his arrest is undemocratic, oppressive and an attack on free speech.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) strongly condemned Hamdi’s detention, describing it as an “abduction” and a blatant attack on free expression.

In a statement, CAIR wrote: “Abducting a prominent British Muslim journalist and political commentator on a speaking tour in the United States because he dared to criticise the Israeli government’s genocide is a blatant affront to free speech.”

CAIR urged ICE to release Hamdi immediately, calling the move an “Israel First policy, not an America First policy.” The organisation said its legal team was pursuing the matter and confirmed Hamdi had not yet been deported.

The Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) echoed this stance, calling on the UK government to take diplomatic action, posting on X: “The MCB urges the UK Government to take urgent diplomatic action to secure British journalist Sami Hamdi’s release from US ICE detention. Press freedom cannot be selective, the Government must defend British citizens and the right to speak truth to power.”

Prominent American academic Dr. Yasir Qadhi called the detention as the US behaving as a proxy for Israel.

“Our government is doing this on behalf of and as Israel’s proxy, because he is a vocal critic of that genocidal regime… Our country is heading towards a fascist dictatorship in which any speech that goes against the official narrative is going to be criminalised.”

By RobCarter

This article is republished from 5Pillars. Read the original article.