PART 1: MLFA Legal Director Marium Uddin and Sami Hamdi live with Freedom of the Press Foundation

On November 18, the Muslim Legal Fund of America Lega Director, Marium Uddin joined Freedom of the Press Foundation for a critical conversation on two alarming cases where individuals were targeted for protected speech related to Palestine. MLFA client, British journalist Sami Hamdi was detained at San Francisco International Airport after his visa was abruptly revoked, raising concerns that he was singled out for his public criticism of Israel’s war in Gaza. In Texas, community journalist and DACA recipient Yaa’kub Ira Vijandre was arrested after federal authorities accused him of “glorifying terrorism” over social media posts about pro-Palestinian protests, despite no criminal charges in either case.

The discussion featured leading advocates and attorneys at the center of these cases: Marium Uddin, Legal Director at MLFA; Hassan Ahmad, Managing Attorney at The HMA Law Firm; Chris Godshall-Bennett, Civil Rights Attorney at Lee & Goodshall-Bennett; Samantha Hamilton, Legal Counsel for the Atlanta Community Press Collective; and journalist Sam Judy. Together, they examined the growing risks facing journalists, immigrants, and activists whose speech is constitutionally protected yet increasingly policed.