Mahmoud Khalil Live in Philadelphia: No Land to Stand On Book Event

Palestinian activist and author Mahmoud Khalil will make a live public appearance in Philadelphia on September 25th to mark the release of his book, No Land to Stand On: Notes From Detention. The event is co-organized by CAIR-Philadelphia and Mavey Books, and co-sponsored by the Middle East Research and Information Project (MERIP).

The author event is scheduled for 7 p.m. at The Friends Center, located at 1501 Cherry St. in Philadelphia. Doors will open at 6 p.m. and close at 6:50 p.m., with no late entry permitted. The program features a conversation with Khalil alongside poetry by Leena Jawdat, author of 70,000: Poems.

### Book Release and Detention Background

No Land to Stand On: Notes From Detention details Khalil’s imprisonment within the United States deportation system. According to the publishers, Khalil began writing the book while detained and finished it while fighting a deportation order.

Khalil is a Palestinian activist, writer, and graduate of Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs who has previously worked in development and international affairs with the United Nations, the British government, and non-profit organizations in the Middle East.

According to Mavey Books, federal authorities arrested Khalil in New York City in March 2025, transported him to an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention center in Louisiana, and initiated deportation proceedings. The book chronicles his arrest, detention conditions, and his family’s displacement history, spanning expulsion from Palestine to a Syrian refugee camp, his flight from Assad’s regime to Lebanon, and his arrival in the United States.

### Ticketing and Community Support

Tickets for the Philadelphia program are required and include a pre-signed copy of No Land to Stand On. Mavey Books has announced that 10% of all online sales from event tickets and book purchases will be donated to ANERA to support orphans and families in Palestine.

A separate pre-event reception is scheduled from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. requiring add-on ticketing. The reception includes a personal meet-and-greet with Khalil, Palestinian cuisine, and reserved seating for the main author event. Reception ticket holders may also request personalized signing requests at checkout.

Venue organizers noted that The Friends Center is wheelchair accessible, and attendees seeking specific accommodations can contact the organizers via email. All tickets for the program are nonrefundable and nontransferable.