Arabic version: كلية كينغز لندن تعيد قيد طالب مؤيد لفلسطين بعد تعليق دراسته

According to Al Jazeera, King’s College London has lifted the suspension of Usama Ghanem, a 22-year-old Egyptian student who was suspended last year following his involvement in pro-Palestine campus activism. Ghanem can return to complete the third and final year of his international studies degree.

Ghanem said, “We won,” describing the suspension and the process that followed as “extremely bitter”. A May 2025 letter seen by Al Jazeera accused him of non-academic misconduct, including acting in an intimidating and hostile manner, disrupting an event, procedural breaches and causing a health and safety concern. The letter also said he would need to return to his home country during the suspension.

His visa was revoked following the disciplinary action. Ghanem said he risked persecution if sent back to Egypt because he had previously been detained there over his activism. After legal action against the university and delays to his studies, he said he was left with conviction and regretted only that he had not done more for Palestinian people.

KCL said it upheld the original reasons for the suspension but concluded that Ghanem had met its agreed conditions, making re-enrolment appropriate. The university said it must act when behaviour breaches safeguarding and security regulations or puts others at risk. It also said visa sponsorship decisions are not made by KCL, though it has a legal duty to notify UK Visas & Immigration about changes in student status. Campaign group Cage and the Association of Student Activism for Palestine welcomed the reinstatement.