British Commentator Sami Hamdi’s Detention at SFO Raises Alarms Over Free Speech

Activists are warning about the erosion of free speech as they demand the release of British political commentator Sami Hamdi, who was detained at San Francisco International Airport on Sunday during a speaking tour of the U.S.

The State Department confirmed in a statement on social media that Hamdi, who has been a vocal critic of Israel, had his visa revoked and will be removed from the country.

He was traveling across the U.S. to appear at multiple events, including the Council on American-Islamic Relations’ Sacramento chapter’s annual gala Saturday, and another CAIR gala in Florida, scheduled for Sunday night.

The organization alleged that Hamdi was detained because of his criticism of Israel and at the urging of right-wing political activists, including Laura Loomer, who has called herself a “proud Islamophobe.”

“Abducting a prominent British Muslim journalist and political commentator on a speaking tour in the United States because he dared to criticize the Israeli government’s genocide is a blatant affront to free speech,” CAIR said in a statement.

Loomer wrote on X that she demanded federal authorities “treat Hamdi as the major National security threat that he is” and reported him “over his documented support for Islamic terrorism.”

The Department of Homeland Security revoked Hamdi’s visa and has him in Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody as it moves to deport him, spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said.

“The United States has no obligation to host foreigners who support terrorism and actively undermine the safety of Americans,” the State Department said on X on Sunday. “We continue to revoke the visas of persons engaged in such activity.”

Hamdi is the managing director of the International Interest, an organization that says it “advises on geopolitical environments and risks across the globe.” He has also appeared on Al Jazeera, Britain’s Sky News and other media outlets to offer commentary on the war in Gaza.

His detention appears to follow others by DHS under President Trump to revoke visas from people over political speech, including people who the State Department said “celebrated” Charlie Kirk’s death.

“Sending him to ICE detention, I think, is intentionally trying to put fear into others who are also speaking about this subject and … others who are traveling with visas as well, as public speakers or guests at different events,” said Reshad Noorzay, the executive director of CAIR Sacramento Valley/Central California.

California’s CAIR chapter said Monday that its legal team, as well as attorneys from the Muslim Legal Fund of America and the HMA Law Firm, are seeking Hamdi’s release.

Noorzay told KQED on Sunday that the organization is hoping Hamdi can reunite with his family and travel back to the United Kingdom. He said in the future, there should be a longer conversation about what the claims that led to Hamdi’s detention were and the State Department’s willingness to “act so brazenly.”

“It’s an attack on free speech, it’s an attack on the community and it’s really an attack on Americans who dare to criticize a foreign government and its actions,” he said.

KQED’s Sara Hossaini contributed to this report.