World
Egyptian Student Reinstated at King's College London After Pro-Palestine Activism Suspension
A 22-year-old Egyptian student who was suspended from King's College London (KCL) over his involvement in pro-Palestine campus activism has been allowed to return and complete his studies. The university lifted Usama Ghanem's suspension late last month, permitting him to resume the final year of his international studies degree.
"We won," Ghanem said. "I was suspended because of my activism for Palestine ... The injustices and the process that I've gone through have felt extremely bitter, but it also needed to be fought."
According to a letter dated May 2025 and seen by Al Jazeera, KCL accused Ghanem of multiple instances 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, signed by university staff, also instructed him to return to his home country during the suspension period.
As a result of the disciplinary action, Ghanem's student visa was revoked. He had previously been detained in Egypt over his activism and argued he risked persecution if forced to return there. Ghanem pursued legal action against the university and accepted delays to his studies before the suspension was lifted.
"I'm left with nothing but conviction, and the only regret I'll ever have is that I didn't do more for the Palestinian people," he said.
The advocacy group Cage described the outcome as "a victory not just for Ghanem, but for every student at King's, across London and beyond who has taken a stand for Palestine and for the right to protest."
In July, a joint investigation by Al Jazeera and Liberty Investigates found that at least 26 KCL students faced disciplinary proceedings connected to pro-Palestine protest activity between October 2023 and November 2025. Since the start of Israel's war on Gaza, several UK universities have come under scrutiny for their handling of Palestine solidarity protests. Earlier this year, the European Legal Support Center reported widespread repression of students, academics and teachers over their support for Palestine, naming educational institutions among those driving the crackdown.
KCL has denied disciplining students because of their activism. A university spokesperson told Al Jazeera that KCL had "upheld the original reasons" for Ghanem's suspension but concluded that he "had met the conditions agreed for suspension and that re-enrolment was therefore the appropriate outcome." The spokesperson added: "We will always apply a fair approach to misconduct proceedings, and have a duty to act where behaviour breaches safeguarding and security regulations, or puts others at risk." The university also noted that decisions on visa sponsorship are made independently of KCL, though it is legally required to notify UK Visas & Immigration of any change in a student's status.
Al Jazeera has also obtained evidence suggesting KCL employed Horus, a private firm staffed by former military intelligence officials, to monitor protest activity. In Ghanem's case, the firm reportedly informed the university of planned demonstrations in support of the "expelled student."
"They have specifically been engaged in surveilling me," Ghanem said. "I think it's crystal clear that King's overreached."
KCL denied monitoring Ghanem specifically, stating that "all information collated by Horus is already publicly available elsewhere," and that the firm is used as "a horizon scanning tool for updates on events on or near our campuses, including protests on any subject."
Hundreds of students and several academics backed Ghanem during the dispute, including the Association of Student Activism for Palestine (ASAP), which said: "KCL's decision to reinstate Usama shows what happens when students and the wider community stand strong against the intimidation tactics of our universities. This victory has shown us the power that students and the wider movement holds when we stand on the side of justice unwaveringly."