How the US revived ‘war on terror’ era surveillance to suppress pro-Palestine movement

Osama Abu Irshaid was returning home to the US from an international trip in June when he was stopped by customs officials at Dulles International Airport in Virginia.

The interrogation by US officials at the airport puzzled Abu Irshaid. While he's not a stranger to these kinds of stops - he had been on a government watchlist until 2017 - Abu Irshaid told Middle East Eye that he had been given TSA pre-check status for years, allowing him to bypass the long lines at airport security.

But since Israel's war on Gaza began last October, Abu Irshaid, who is the executive director of American Muslims for Palestine, has witnessed a campaign of surveillance and repression launched by both the US government, private companies, and university campuses.

He was placed on the watchlist again, but now he says his family is also on it.

"This time, I'm back on it (the watchlist) because of my vocal position against the genocide that is taking place in Gaza," Abu Irshaid told MEE.

Read more: How the US revived ‘war on terror’ era surveillance to suppress pro-Palestine movement