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Abdullah Akl, an organizer with Within Our Lifetime and director of advocacy at MAS Staten Island Center, discussed the March 8 arrest of Columbia University activist Mahmoud Khalil during Tarawih services at the Staten Island mosque on March 10, 2025. He condemned President Trump's statement "Shalom Mahmoud" in Hebrew, which claimed Khalil was antisemitic, while Akl argued that all Khalil did was stand up against the "genocide" in Gaza, like many of the worshipers at the mosque.
Akl stressed that it is time for the Muslim community to protect themselves by not cooperating with immigration officials and by knowing the number of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) by heart. He said that the MAS Staten Island Center will not cooperate with immigration officials. He also asked whether community members are willing to "hide" Muslim brothers and sisters and protect them "against all harm." He urged Muslims in America to learn from the people of Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria, who "put their entire lives on the line." Akl called on participants to join a protest for Mahmoud Khalil, which was set to be held the following day.
Khalil was arrested for aligning with Hamas, a U.S. designated terror organization. For more about Mahmoud Khalil, see MEMRI TV clip no 11883.
It is worth noting that Abdullah Akl has participated in several protests where Hamas paraphernalia was brandished, as well as photos of assassinated members of U.S.-designated terrorist organizations, such as Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh and Hizbullah military leader Fuad Shukr.
Abdullah Akl: "Just two days ago, Mahmoud Khalil, a student of Columbia University... In the middle of the night, Department of Homeland Security in collaboration with ICE [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] raided his apartment.
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"The reason why he was targeted, as the White House puts out just this morning, the White House puts his picture on the front cover in collaboration with the President of the United States, Donald Trump, mentioning 'Shalom Mahmoud.' This is the country that we live in, brothers and sisters. The President of the United States is saying goodbye in Hebrew to a young Columbian activist, a negotiator during the Columbia protests. Why? Because they claim that he was antisemitic when all he did was stand up against the genocide in Gaza, like many of, all of us, here today.
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"Now more than ever it is time to protect ourselves as a community. It is time for us to know our rights. And you will be seeing it posted across our pages on our centers. Know your rights by not opening the door for immigration officials. Know your rights by understanding what it means to see a judge warrant. Know your rights by knowing the Council on American-Islamic Relations [CAIR] phone number like the back of your [hand].
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"If immigration officials ever come to our door MAS Staten Island is prepared to tell them no.
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"Are you of that community that is willing to hide, willing to sanction, willing to protect your brothers and sisters against all harm?
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"As we look to Gaza, as we look to Syria, as we look to Lebanon, and we look to our countries. And we say that they are committing and putting their entire lives on the line. They are being tested, the true test. I ask you brothers and sisters, do you not think this is a test as well?
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"Tomorrow there is a protest being held in lower Manhattan. It is against everything that the Trump administration and Mayor Eric Adams stands for. We stand with that protest."
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