MERIP is proud to co-sponsor a conversation with Mahmoud Khalil and poet Leena Jawdat live in Philadelphia on September 25th. This event is co-organized by CAIR-Philadelphia and Mavey Books and celebrates the release of Khalil's book, No Land to Stand On: Notes From Detention.

A revelatory testament of protest, courage, and imprisonment in America's deportation regime, Mavey Books proudly presents No Land to Stand On: Notes From Detention by Mahmoud Khalil.

"I began this book while in detention and I finished it fighting a deportation order that may take me from my family. This is what it has cost me to tell this story. I wrote it anyway because I believe testimony is one of the few things that can make injustice visible before it becomes inevitable. My hope is that anyone who reads this understands that Palestine is not the exception, it is the warning. The rights we are losing were never only ours to lose."

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

In March 2025, the Trump administration unlawfully arrested Khalil, transported him thousands of miles away to an ICE detention center in Louisiana, and attempted to deport him—all in retaliation for his advocacy in support of Palestinian rights. No Land to Stand On is Khalil's revelatory and powerful testament of protest, courage, and imprisonment in America's deportation regime.

Mavey Books and CAIR Philadelphia welcome Mahmoud Khalil for the release of his book with poetry by Lenna Jawdat (70,000: Poems).

Event: This author event will be hosted at The Friends Center, 1501 Cherry St., Philadelphia, PA 19102, on September 25th at 7 pm. Tickets are required for this program and include a pre-signed copy of No Land to Stand On. Doors will open at 6 pm and close at 6:50 pm. No late entry admitted.

Reception: A separate reception will be held 5:30-6:30 pm with add-on ticketing. Reception features a personal meet and greet with Mahmoud Khalil and bites of Palestinian cuisine. Reception ticket holders may include personalized signing requests at checkout for a personalized copy of No Land to Stand On. Reception does not include live signings. Reception tickets include reserved seating to the author event.

Mavey Books will donate 10% of all online sales from tickets and books to ANERA, supporting orphans and families in Palestine.

To request accommodations for this event or to inquire about accessibility please email hello@maveybooks.com. This venue is wheelchair accessible. We will make an effort to accommodate all requests.

All tickets are nontransferable and nonrefundable.