Wife Urges US to Release British Journalist Sami Hamdi
Soumaya Hamdi, wife of British-Tunisian journalist and commentator Sami Hamdi, has publicly called for her husband’s immediate release after he was unexpectedly detained by U.S. immigration authorities at San Francisco International Airport on October 26, 2025. The arrest followed the revocation of his visa two days earlier, allegedly influenced by social media pressure from pro-Israel and anti-Muslim groups.
“Is it true that Sami is being abducted?” a friend asked Soumaya, reflecting the shock and distress faced by the family. Sami, 35, had been on a U.S. speaking tour discussing Israel’s war on Gaza and advocating for Palestinian rights.
Detention and Alleged Harassment
According to Soumaya, Hamdi was stopped in the airport terminal, bundled into a black van by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers, and only permitted one brief text message to inform his wife and the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR).
“He sounded really under pressure,” Soumaya said after speaking to him briefly from the Golden State Annex detention center, located hours from the airport. Authorities later transferred him to another facility for processing and interrogated him without his lawyers present.
The couple have three children, including a 10-month-old baby, who remain separated from their father during the detention.
Legal Challenge Filed
CAIR’s California chapter has filed a federal habeas corpus petition on Hamdi’s behalf, demanding that authorities justify his detention. An emergency temporary restraining order also seeks to prevent his transfer to a distant facility, which could impede access to legal counsel and family.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) claimed Hamdi “cheered on” Hamas-led attacks on October 7 and shared a selective video clip to justify the detention. Hamdi has since clarified his remarks, emphasizing his advocacy was for a just cause for Palestinian rights, not war.
Soumaya described the allegations as a “smear campaign targeting his advocacy for Palestinian rights,” noting that Hamdi’s commentary criticizes foreign governments, not the United States.
Broader Context: Advocacy and Islamophobia
Legal experts and civil rights groups warn that Hamdi’s case is part of a broader crackdown on pro-Palestinian advocacy in the U.S. under immigration law, reflecting a pattern of structural anti-Palestinian racism and Islamophobia.
CAIR cited data showing a record 8,658 civil rights complaints in 2024, attributing the surge to U.S.-backed actions in Gaza and a wave of Islamophobic incidents nationwide, including discrimination in employment, education, law enforcement encounters, and hate crimes.
UK Government Response
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) stated it is “providing consular assistance” and maintaining contact with local authorities and Hamdi’s family. Soumaya, however, described the response as “wholly inadequate,” saying UK officials are blocked from obtaining information about why Hamdi’s visa was revoked.
Five UK MPs, including former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, have demanded that the UK government secure consular access and his safe return. Press freedom groups, including the National Union of Journalists and the International Federation of Journalists, have echoed calls for Hamdi’s immediate release.
The Stakes for Free Speech
Zahra Billoo, executive director of CAIR’s San Francisco Bay Area office, emphasized that Hamdi’s detention has implications beyond a single individual:
“If the United States government can treat a renowned journalist and British citizen this way, it raises serious questions about who can safely express political opinions without fear of punitive action,” she said.
Hamdi’s detention has left his family devastated. Soumaya pleaded, “He has a family that misses him dearly and would be very happy for him to come home. So what’s the reason for depriving him of his liberty and freedom?”
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