Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian refugee, has become a voice for the voiceless as he navigates the complexities of exile, detention, and advocacy. Born in the Khan Eshieh refugee camp on the outskirts of Damascus, Khalil’s life has been marked by war and conflict. As the youngest of four brothers, he faced brutal odds from an early age. Having survived a terrifying shooting encounter at only 16, he excelled to the hospital for multiple days.
Khalil’s experiences illustrate the grim reality of life in Syria under the oppressive Assad regime. He saw the violent retaliations against friends and family members who sheltered those escaping violence. Then, on January 11, 2013 the tone changed dramatically. Two of them were his childhood friends, Bashar and Ali, who were carted off by feared Syrian intelligence officers. Tragically, both were subsequently killed in custody. Their deaths only became clear a few months after the regime fell in late 2024.
Despite these traumatic events, Khalil pursued education, enrolling in university to study computer science while taking remedial English classes. His academic journey led him to work on Syria policy at the British embassy before relocating to New York in 2023.
Fate dealt him yet another blow when, in March, he was arrested by plainclothes agents. Khalil soon ended up in Jena, a massive detention center tucked away in a pine forest four hours from New Orleans. During his time in detention, he managed to dictate well-written dispatches to his legal team over the phone, despite losing about 15 pounds (6.8 kg) during his ordeal.
Having suffered through this traumatic ordeal, Khalil was finally released on bail and returned to New York. He currently lives in North Chelmsford with his wife, Noor Abdalla, and their four-month-old son, Deen. His determination to advocate for Palestine has not wavered.
“No. I have always believed in standing up against injustice,” – Mahmoud Khalil
Khalil’s pursuit of justice goes beyond what he has endured on a personal level. He recalls with great clarity the feeling of being stuck in an already-decided procedure while in detention. It was as if he were in a Broadway show, but wouldn’t comply with the dramaturgical boundaries they tried to set for him.
“It was predetermined. That it was a play. It was theatre. I did not want to play within their rules,” – Mahmoud Khalil
Khalil took the opportunity to share his personal story and expressed his frustrations with the current political landscape. He was most incensed by the decisions that the Trump administration made on his case.
“Trump and his administration, they chose the wrong person for this,” – Mahmoud Khalil
He described everything that led up to his arrest as devoid of basic tenets of fairness and justice.
“Neither of these principles were present today or in this whole process,” – Mahmoud Khalil
Khalil’s journey is a testament of the ongoing fight of many refugees who are leaving everything behind to find safety and dignity. He hopes for a day when no one will have to live in fear of domination.
“I imagine it as a place where everyone lives in dignity, freedom, equality, regardless of who they are, where they come from,” – Mahmoud Khalil
His resolve is absolutely unshakeable.
“Even if I am deported, I would continue to speak out for Palestine,” – Mahmoud Khalil