BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//wp-events-plugin.com//7.2.3.1//EN TZID:America/Detroit X-WR-TIMEZONE:America/Detroit BEGIN:VEVENT UID:35829@arabamerica.com DTSTART;TZID=America/Detroit:20260212T183000 DTEND;TZID=America/Detroit:20260212T203000 DTSTAMP:20260210T182932Z URL:https://www.arabamerica.com/events/in-conversation-with-mahmoud-khalil -and-prem-thakker/ SUMMARY:In Conversation with Mahmoud Khalil and Prem Thakker DESCRIPTION:\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nTHURSDAY\, FEBRUARY 12\, 2026 @ 6:30 PM\nBUSBOY S AND POETS - 450K\n450 K St NW Washington\, DC 20001\n\nMahmoud Khalil\ni n conversation with\nPrem Thakker\nJoin Busboys and Poets for an urgent co nversation with Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil\, a leading voice in the pro-Palestinian movement and former organizer at Columbia University. Khalil will be joined by Prem Thakker\, political correspondent at Zete o.\nMahmoud Khalil spent more than three months in ICE detention following his arrest in March 2025. Although a lower court decision had temporarily secured his release\, that ruling was recently overturned by a federal ap peals court\, reopening the possibility of renewed detention and deportati on as his legal fight continues.\nHe will be joined on the Busboys and Poe ts stage by Prem Thakkker.\n Prem Thakker is a political correspondent a t Zeteo whose column goes beneath the headlines—asking provocative quest ions and revealing what’s missing from the national conversation.\nCome out and hear directly from Mahmoud Khalil about what's next.\nFREE AND OPE N TO ALL\n\n\n \;\n\n \;\n\n \;\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\ n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMAHMOUD KHALIL\nMahmoud Khalil is a Palestinia n activist\, writer\, and recent Columbia University graduate\, known for his outspoken advocacy on human rights\, free speech\, and Palestinian jus tice. In 2025\, Khalil was detained for over 100 days in a Louisiana immig ration jail after being arrested without a warrant\, sparking national att ention to the treatment of activists and the abuse of governmental power. During his incarceration\, he endured harsh conditions\, separation from h is newborn son and wife\, and public vilification\, all while continuing t o support fellow detainees. Since his release\, Khalil has pursued legal a ction against the U.S. government and remains a vocal advocate for account ability\, justice\, and the protection of political dissent.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.arabamerica.com/wp-content/uploads/2 026/02/unnamed-1.png LOCATION:Busboys and Poets\, 450 K St NW\, Washington DC\, District of Colu mbia\, 20001\, United States GEO:38.90245;-77.018065 X-APPLE-STRUCTURED-LOCATION;VALUE=URI;X-ADDRESS=450 K St NW\, Washington DC \, District of Columbia\, 20001\, United States;X-APPLE-RADIUS=100;X-TITLE =Busboys and Poets:geo:38.90245,-77.018065 END:VEVENT BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:America/Detroit X-LIC-LOCATION:America/Detroit BEGIN:STANDARD DTSTART:20251102T010000 TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE END:VCALENDAR