Mahmoud Khalil in Conversation with Karen Attiah
Date and Time
Sep 18, 2025 6:00 pm
Location
14th & V
2021 14th St NW, Washington, District of Columbia, 20009
Sep 18, 2025 6:00 pm
14th & V
As part of our 20th anniversary celebration, Busboys and Poets is proud to host a special conversation between prominent Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil and Karen Attiah, award-winning journalist and global thought leader.
Mahmoud Khalil, recently released after more than 100 days in U.S. immigration detention, is pursuing legal action against the government while continuing his advocacy for Palestinian rights and free expression.
Moderated by Karen Attiah, this event will also explore the broader implications of Khalil’s story: the intersections of immigration, human rights, and U.S. foreign policy — and what it means to stand firm in one’s convictions despite extraordinary personal costs.
FREE AND OPEN TO ALL
Mahmoud Khalil is a Palestinian activist, writer, and recent Columbia University graduate, known for his outspoken advocacy on human rights, free speech, and Palestinian justice. In 2025, Khalil was detained for over 100 days in a Louisiana immigration jail after being arrested without a warrant, sparking national attention to the treatment of activists and the abuse of governmental power. During his incarceration, he endured harsh conditions, separation from his newborn son and wife, and public vilification, all while continuing to support fellow detainees. Since his release, Khalil has pursued legal action against the U.S. government and remains a vocal advocate for accountability, justice, and the protection of political dissent.
Karen Attiah is an award-winning journalist, columnist, and global thought leader whose work explores the intersections of race, culture, gender, and international affairs.
In 2016, Karen became the founding editor of The Washington Post’s Global Opinions section, where she commissioned commentary from some of the world’s most influential thinkers and dissidents. She became a staff columnist in 2021. Her writing—widely recognized for its clarity, courage, and impact—focuses on global justice, human rights, and the Black diaspora.
Karen’s work has earned her numerous accolades, including the 2019 George Polk Special Award, the Harriet Beecher Stowe Freedom Writer Award, the National Association of Black Journalists’ Journalist of the Year Award, and recognition in Essence’s “Woke 100” and The Root 100. Washingtonian magazine named her a “Star to Watch” in 2021.
