London, United Kingdom – A ۲۲-year-old Egyptian student suspended from King’s College London (KCL) last year after his involvement in pro-Palestine campus activism is returning to university.
KCL lifted Usama Ghanem’s suspension late last month, allowing him to return and complete the third and 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 May ۲۰۲۵ letter addressed to Ghanem and seen by Al Jazeera, KCL accused him of several 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 stated: “You will need to return to your home country during this period of suspension.”
Ghanem’s visa was revoked as a result of the disciplinary action. But as he had previously been detained in Egypt over his activism, he had claimed that he risked persecution if he returned.
After taking legal action against the university and accepting delays to his studies, Ghanem told Al Jazeera: “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.”
The campaign group Cage said, “This is 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, Al Jazeera and Liberty Investigates reported that at least ۲۶ students at KCL had faced disciplinary investigations after engaging in pro-Palestine protest activity between October ۲۰۲۳ and November ۲۰۲۵.
Since Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza began, several universities across the UK have faced criticism over their handling of Palestine solidarity protests on campus.
Earlier this year, the European Legal Support Center documented what it described as widespread repression of students, academics and teachers over their solidarity with Palestine, identifying educational institutions among those leading the crackdown.
KCL denies disciplining students for activism.
A university spokesperson told Al Jazeera that KCL had “upheld the original reasons” for Ghanem’s suspension but had determined that he “had met the conditions agreed for suspension and that re-enrolment was therefore the appropriate outcome”.
“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 spokesperson said.
They added that decisions on visa sponsorship are not made by KCL, but that the university “has a legal duty to notify (UK Visas & Immigration) of any change in student status”.
‘King’s overreached’
Al Jazeera has also seen evidence indicating that KCL used Horus, a private firm run by former military intelligence officials, to monitor protest activity.
In Ghanem’s case, the company appeared to have informed the university of upcoming 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, saying “all information collated by Horus is already publicly available elsewhere.
“We use Horus as a horizon scanning tool for updates on events on or near our campuses, including protests on any subject,” the university said.
Hundreds of students and several academics supported Ghanem throughout his dispute with KCL, including the Association of Student Activism for Palestine (ASAP).
“KCL’s decision to reinstate Usama shows what happens when students and the wider community stand strong against the intimidation tactics of our universities,” ASAP told Al Jazeera.
“This victory has shown us the power that students and the wider movement holds when we stand on the side of justice unwaveringly.”
