The Cordoba Foundation expresses its deep concern and unequivocal condemnation of the detention and incarceration of British journalist Sami Hamdi by officials of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at San Francisco International Airport earlier this week.
Hamdi, a respected journalist and analyst known for his courageous reporting on political developments in the Middle East and his consistent advocacy for justice and human rights, was reportedly detained without clear explanation. He has been denied access to communication for an extended period, and subjected to treatment that raises serious questions about due process and press freedom.
Such actions are profoundly troubling. They represent not only an infringement on the basic rights of an individual journalist but also a dangerous signal of the growing intolerance toward dissenting voices and independent journalism. The arbitrary detention of journalists, especially those critical of repressive regimes or foreign policy complicity in humanitarian crises, undermines the very democratic principles the United States claims to uphold.
The Cordoba Foundation calls on the U.S. authorities to immediately clarify the reasons for Hamdi’s detention, to ensure his full legal and human rights are respected, and to prevent any further acts of intimidation or reprisal against journalists exercising their professional duty to speak truth to power.
Furthermore, we urge the British government to take swift diplomatic measures to secure the safety and release of its citizen, and to affirm its commitment to defending freedom of the press worldwide.
The Cordoba Foundation stands in full solidarity with Sami Hamdi and all journalists subjected to intimidation and unlawful detention. We reaffirm our commitment to defending human rights, freedom of expression, and the rule of law, wherever and by whomever they are threatened.
The Cordoba Foundation, London
1st November, 2025
