Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil has filed a lawsuit against the federal government and several private groups, alleging a conspiracy to suppress criticism of Israel through a coordinated campaign to dox, jail, and ultimately deport student activists.

Background of the Lawsuit

The civil rights suit, filed in federal court, names the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, as the architect of what it describes as an ongoing conspiracy to silence members of the pro-Palestinian movement by smearing them as antisemites. The lawsuit claims that the efforts were aided by Canary Mission and Betar, two pro-Israel groups that maintain online lists of Israel’s critics, often alongside unsubstantiated claims that they are affiliated with Hamas.

Lawyers for Khalil argue that this ‘public-private partnership’ could violate the Ku Klux Klan Act, a Reconstruction-era law that sought to restrict government coordination with vigilante groups. The suit seeks unspecified damages and a judicial order to end the alleged conspiracy.

Response from the Heritage Foundation and Other Groups

Inquiries to the Heritage Foundation, Canary Mission, and Betar were not immediately returned. Abigail Jackson, a White House spokesperson, did not comment on the lawsuit but said that the executive branch ‘has the lawful authority to take actions that will protect the public and to ensure the integrity of our immigration system.’

Khalil’s lawsuit comes as his deportation case appears headed to the U.S. Supreme Court. At a news conference, Khalil described the purpose of the latest filing as ‘exposing the network of organizations, particular actors, and institutions that work together to criminalize solidarity with Palestine and to make an example of those who refuse to stay silent.’

Original reporting: 40/29 / KHBS (NW Arkansas) — read the source article.