US detains British Muslim journalist during tour after Israel criticism

US authorities detained a British Muslim journalist on Sunday, apparently due his criticism of Israel, according to the Council on American-Islamic Relations (Cair).

Sami Hamdi was held by the Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency at San Francisco International Airport during a speaking tour in the US.

Hamdi had spoken at a Cair gala on Saturday in Sacramento, where he condemned Israel's genocide in Gaza.

He was scheduled to speak at another Cair event in Florida on Sunday.

Cair has described the detention as retaliation for Hamdi's criticism of Israel, calling it an "abduction."

“Detaining a prominent British Muslim journalist and political commentator during his speaking tour in the United States simply for daring to criticise the Israeli government’s actions is a blatant attack on free speech,” the Washington-based CAIR said in a statement.

Hamdi is the editor-in-chief of The International Interest, a publication focused on Middle East geopolitics, and is known for his outspoken criticism of US and Israeli policies.

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