Swedish academic says UK entry ban may be linked to planned panel event
Swedish academic Andreas Malm says the Home Office has barred him from entering the UK, telling him his presence would be “not conducive to the public good”. He believes the decision may be linked to a planned London panel with Huda Ammori, co-founder of Palestine Action, and says it restricts the exchange of ideas.
Malm says he is not a member or supporter of Palestine Action and has asked the Home Office to explain its decision; the department does not comment on individual cases. He also suggested remarks he made in 2023 about the Hamas-led 7 October attacks could have played a part. Palestine Action’s proscription is due for review by the Supreme Court; more than 3,700 people are believed to have been arrested over alleged support, and about 2,500 charged, with no trials yet.
In short
- Andreas Malm says the UK has barred him from entering.
- He links the decision to a planned panel with Huda Ammori.
- Palestine Action’s ban is awaiting a Supreme Court review.
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The case for
A ban on a visiting academic whose views are contentious can still raise serious concerns about open debate, especially if the decision is connected to a planned public panel rather than a demonstrated threat. The Home Office’s broad public-good rationale, without an explanation in this individual case, makes scrutiny and clear safeguards important; restrictions affecting alleged support for Palestine Action also merit careful legal review.
The case against
The government may argue that entry decisions are a legitimate part of protecting public order and the public good, and that it must assess the potential impact of a visitor’s past remarks and planned associations. It may also consider that these decisions involve sensitive, individual circumstances that cannot be fully discussed publicly, while the courts review the legal status of Palestine Action’s proscription.
Explained simply
The Home Office is the UK government department responsible for immigration and national security. It can refuse entry to people from abroad on public interest grounds, though decisions in individual cases are not usually explained publicly.
Andreas Malm is a Swedish academic whose work focuses on climate politics. Huda Ammori co-founded Palestine Action, a group that campaigns against companies it says are involved in the arms trade with Israel; the UK government has proscribed the group under terrorism laws.
The dispute sits within wider debate about protest, national security and freedom of expression in the UK. A proscription makes membership of, or certain forms of support for, a group a criminal offence, and the legality of Palestine Action’s proscription is being reviewed by the courts.
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Originally published by BBC World as “Swedish academic says he has been barred from UK over event with Palestine Action founder”.