The Case of Terror-Tied Yale Scholar is Clearer Than Mahmoud Khalil’s
Helyeh Doutaghi, a Yale scholar whom the Samidoun terror group has identified as a member, presents a clearer violation of U.S. law than Columbia University's Mahmoud Khalil
In the days since The New York Times covered Jewish Onliner’s investigation into Yale scholar Helyeh Doutaghi’s ties to Samidoun—an exposé that led to her being placed on administrative leave—the public conversation has shifted from her case itself to broader debates about free speech.
That debate, however, misses the core issue.
In October 2024, the U.S. Treasury Department under President Joe Biden officially designated Samidoun as a terrorist entity because it serves as a financial and operational arm of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP). The PFLP, in turn, has a long history of terrorist activity, is responsible for the deaths of American citizens, and is recognized as a terror group by the U.S., the European Union, and multiple other democratic nations.
The First Amendment is a fundamental right in the U.S. and must be protected, but being a member of a designated terror group is not a matter of free speech.
Doutaghi’s public support of Hamas and the October 7th massacre is concerning, as is her declaration that “I will use everything and anything at my disposal to fight this fascist dictatorship of the United States.”
However, her affiliation with a U.S.-designated terrorist organization—carries a legal distinction that has serious implications.
Ties to Samidoun
As previously covered by Jewish Onliner, Ms. Doutaghi participated in an April 2022 webinar titled "Palestine and Iran – Changing the Global Balance of Power" alongside Khaled Barakat, a PFLP operative officially designated as a terrorist by multiple governments, including the United States. The event was hosted by Masar Badil, another alleged front of the PFLP.
A clip of a speech she delivered was played at a screening for the Samidoun—produced documentary Fedayeen, the Struggle for George Abdullah in Iran. Abdullah, a member of the PFLP, is currently serving a life sentence for his role in the murders of a U.S. and Israeli diplomat.
More recently, Ms. Doutaghi was scheduled to speak in October 2024 at an online event titled "The Resistance Front and the New Global Order-Making," hosted by Samidoun, and set to feature Barakat as a speaker as well.
Ms. Doutaghi’s Ties to Samidoun Have Not Been Refuted
Despite multiple opportunities to do so, Ms. Doutaghi has yet to explicitly deny her membership in Samidoun.
In her lengthy statement released last week, she addressed the controversy by claiming that Jewish Onliner had “published a report falsely accusing me of being a ‘terrorist.’” However, this is not a denial of her affiliation with Samidoun. When Ms. Doutaghi says it is “false” that she is a terrorist, she is not necessarily refuting claims of membership in Samidoun—she is merely rejecting the characterization of herself as a terrorist.
This pattern appears throughout her statement: not once does she explicitly deny membership in Samidoun.
Moreover, during an interview on The Hill’s show Rising, Ms. Doutaghi’s lawyer, Eric Lee, was repeatedly asked about the evidence presented by Jewish Onliner regarding Samidoun’s statement that Doutaghi is a member. Yet, each time, he refused to directly answer the question. Three examples of such evasions can be seen here, here, and here.
Legal Status in U.S. and Legal Implications
Doutaghi was allegedly born in Iran, according to multiple reports.
While Ms. Doutaghi’s exact legal status in the U.S. remains unclear, she does not appear to be a citizen. During the interview with The Hill, one of the presenters stated that she “is not a citizen of the United States,” to which her lawyer responded rhetorically, “Does the First Amendment say, ‘the rights of citizens,’ or does it say, ‘the rights of the people?’” This supports the contention that Ms. Doutaghi is not a U.S. citizen.
Given Samidoun’s designation as a terrorist organization, Ms. Doutaghi’s alleged membership in the group (as claimed by Samidoun), and her apparent status as a foreign national in the U.S., serious legal questions arise regarding her continued presence in the country
This contrasts with the case of Mahmoud Khalil, a former Columbia University student, Green Card holder, and activist recently arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Khalil, who may face deportation, served as a spokesperson for the Columbia University Apartheid Divest (CUAD) coalition, a group that has promoted anti-Israel activism on campus.
CUAD has expressed support for Hamas terrorism and the “eradication” of Western civilization. While Khalil’s case has sparked debate over whether his detention infringes on free speech protections, the legal basis for deporting non-citizens affiliated with terrorist organizations remains firm.
Deportation and Possible Legal Action
Given the existing legal framework surrounding material support for terrorist organizations, there is a strong possibility that sufficient evidence already exists to warrant Doutaghi's arrest and deportation.
The law is clear: membership in or providing material support to a designated terrorist entity carries severe consequences, and non-citizens are subject to removal if they violate such laws.
While some activists have attempted to frame Khalil’s case as an issue of political persecution, Doutaghi’s situation leaves little room for ambiguity—Samidoun is legally classified as a terrorist organization, and there is no constitutional protection for membership in such a group.
