Mahmoud Khalil and other activists have filed a federal lawsuit against Columbia University, alleging the school failed to protect them from harassment and discrimination.

Mahmoud Khalil, the SIPA Palestine Working Group, and its president, Mohammad Zubairi, filed a federal lawsuit against Columbia University on Monday. The plaintiffs accuse the university of deliberate indifference toward pervasive harassment, threats, and doxxing directed at students based on their advocacy for Palestinian rights and their perceived Arab or Muslim ancestry.

Allegations of Institutional Bias

The complaint, filed in Manhattan federal court, alleges that Columbia violated federal civil rights law by failing to address reports of harassment. Khalil, a Columbia graduate, stated that he began reporting incidents during the spring semester of 2023, prior to the start of the war in Gaza. He characterized the university's environment as having "rotten, institutionalized anti-Palestinian bigotry" that is supported by the board of trustees. According to the lawsuit, the university responded to student protests by labeling them as security risks and implementing policies that subjected criticism of the Israeli government to disciplinary action. The plaintiffs claim that the university's failure to investigate reports of violence and its subsequent retaliatory actions caused ongoing harm to members of the SIPA Palestine Working Group.

Background and University Response

Mahmoud Khalil gained national attention in March 2025 when he was arrested by U.S. immigration agents in his university residence. Despite being a lawful permanent resident and facing no criminal charges, his arrest became a focal point of the Trump administration's crackdown on pro-Palestinian campus protests. Columbia University declined to comment on the pending litigation. A university spokeswoman stated that the school remains committed to creating an environment where every member of the community feels supported and safe.