A British Muslim journalist, Sami Hamdi, was detained by US authorities on Sunday at San Francisco International Airport, sparking widespread condemnation from civil rights groups. The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) alleges that Hamdi’s detention was a direct retaliation for his vocal criticism of Israel’s actions in Gaza during a speaking tour in the United States. Hamdi, the editor-in-chief of The International Interest, had addressed a CAIR gala in Sacramento on Saturday, where he condemned what he described as Israel’s genocide in Gaza. He was scheduled to speak at another CAIR event in Florida on Sunday before his detention. CAIR has labeled the incident an “abduction” and a blatant attack on free speech, calling for his immediate release. The organization emphasized that Hamdi’s only “crime” was criticizing a foreign government accused of genocide. The detention has drawn sharp criticism from human rights advocates, who view it as part of a broader pattern of silencing dissent against Israeli policies. Meanwhile, Amy Mekelburg, founder of the pro-Israel group RAIR Foundation, claimed credit for Hamdi’s arrest, accusing him of legitimizing Jihadi networks and aligning with the Muslim Brotherhood. Mekelburg called for Hamdi’s deportation, alleging that he was promoting anti-American ideologies. The incident has reignited debates over free speech and the influence of pro-Israel advocacy groups in US policy. Human Rights Watch has condemned the Trump administration’s actions, citing a climate of fear created by the arrests of non-citizen students and scholars for expressing political views. Similar crackdowns on pro-Palestinian voices have been reported in the UK, where the government has criminalized support for Palestine Action under the Terrorism Act. Amnesty International has criticized these measures as disproportionate and absurd.