A former postgraduate student at Columbia University has launched legal proceedings against the prestigious New York institution, alleging a prolonged pattern of anti-Palestinian prejudice and systemic institutional neglect.
As reported by The Guardian, Mahmoud Khalil, a permanent US resident of Palestinian heritage who attended the university's School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA), filed the civil lawsuit on Monday. The legal action names both Columbia University and a university dean as co-defendants.
The lawsuit accuses the higher education institution of "deliberate indifference" towards its students, alleging that administrators failed to address persistent and coordinated harassment directed at pro-Palestinian campaigners. According to coverage by Al Jazeera, Mr Khalil contends that university leaders disregarded their duty of care and engaged in retaliatory actions against affected individuals.
The legal dispute follows significant public controversy surrounding Mr Khalil's status in the United States. In March 2025, federal immigration officers arrested him at his university accommodation. As noted by The Guardian, his arrest marked the first in a series of detentions by the Trump administration aimed at deporting foreign nationals involved in pro-Palestinian advocacy.
The lawsuit seeks accountability for what the filing describes as years of unaddressed bias against Palestinian scholars within the university environment. Neither Columbia University nor the named dean have issued an official response to the claims.