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Swedish Academic Barred From UK Over Event With Palestine Action Co-Founder
Confirmed
In Short: Andreas Malm, a Swedish climate academic, was denied entry to the UK to speak at an event with Palestine Action co-founder Huda Ammori.
Swedish climate academic Andreas Malm said he was denied entry to the UK on Friday, where he was scheduled to speak alongside Huda Ammori, the co-founder of Palestine Action, a group banned as a terrorist organization.
Malm told the BBC’s Radio 4 that he received a message from the UK Home Office stating his presence in the UK was not conducive to the public good, without providing further details.
Malm, a senior lecturer in human ecology at Lund University, expressed frustration, stating, “What this means is that I am banned from doing my work as an intellectual, as an academic.”
Malm added that he had been going back and forth to the UK for years to conduct scientific work, archival research, and participate in conferences. He said this was the main purpose of his visit this time.
The academic acknowledged that he had previously described the Hamas-led October 7 attack on Israel as “fundamentally an act of liberation,” suggesting this could be a reason for his ban.
Malm suspected the ban was linked to his planned appearance at an event organized by the socialist magazine Tribune, where he was to speak about the war in Iran alongside Ammori.
The UK Supreme Court is set to hear an appeal next week on the proscription of Palestine Action under terrorism laws, which has criminalized expressing support for the group.
Malm emphasized that he had not publicly endorsed, promoted, or financially supported Palestine Action, criticizing the UK government for ascribing guilt by association.
The academic said he had asked the Home Office to explain its decision but could not see a reason beyond the upcoming talk in London with Ammori, calling the move a severe restriction on the free exchange of ideas.
Malm’s case follows a trend of British authorities blocking individuals linked to Palestine Action, including left-wing media personality Cenk Uygur and his nephew Hasan Piker in June.
What this adds
The UK's ban on individuals associated with Palestine Action has drawn criticism from various quarters, including authors and musicians who have expressed support for the group.
The Home Office's decision to bar Malm has raised concerns about the implications for academic freedom and the free exchange of ideas in the UK.
What's confirmed
- LONDON: Swedish climate academic Andreas Malm said on Friday he had been denied entry to Britain, where he was due to speak alongside the co-founder of Palestine Action, a group banned as a terrorist organization.
- Malm told the BBC’s Radio 4 he received a message from the Home Office saying his “presence in the UK is not conducive to the public good,” with no further clarification.
- “What this means is that I am banned from doing my work as an intellectual, as an academic.” Asked by the BBC whether the ban could be linked to previous comments he made calling the Oct.
- “I’ve been going back and forth to the UK for years, for decades, to do my scientific work, my archival research, my participation in conferences. This is the main purpose of my visit to the UK this time too,” Malm said.
- In June, Britain blocked left-wing Turkish American media personality Cenk Uygur and his nephew Hasan Piker from entering the country to speak at events.
- Britain’s Supreme Court is due to hear an appeal next week on the proscription of Palestine Action under terrorism laws, which has made expressing support for the group a criminal offense.
- Malm, an academic at Sweden’s Lund University, has been a vocal critic of Israel and expressed strong support for the Palestinian movement.
- He added he had not publicly endorsed, promoted or financially supported Palestine Action.
- Earlier in October, Irish novelist Sally Rooney said her books will no longer be sold in Britain over her plans to use her royalties to support Palestine Action.
- He said he suspected he was barred because he was due to appear at an event next Wednesday organized by a socialist magazine alongside Palestine Action co-founder Huda Ammori, where he said he was due to speak about the war in Iran.
- Swedish climate scholar Andreas Malm has been barred from entering the UK ahead of a planned appearance at a London conference, with immigration officials saying his presence "may not be considered to be conducive to the public good," The Guardian reported on Friday.
What's still developing
- Pro-Palestinian activists stage a solidarity protest outside Royal Courts of Justice as co-founder of Palestine Action Huda Ammori takes Home Secretary to High Court over proscription of the group as terror organization in London, United Kingdom on July 4, 2025. [İlyas Tayfun Salcı – Anadolu Agency] British police are assessing a social media post by the wife of national security adviser Jonathan Powell that references the banned group Palestine Action, the BBC reported on Friday.
- Sheeran said that he's " not complicit," then cried about it onstage.
- New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft confirmed that he made the decision to bar Macklemore from opening for Ed Sheeran at Gillette Stadium after the Seattle rapper expressed support for Palestinians and called for a “Free Palestine” at a recent show.
- Thursday, September 24, 2026 · 12:11 PM ET In Short: Macklemore was dropped from Ed Sheeran's Loop Tour after just two shows following his performance of 'Hind's Hall,' a song that calls for a 'free Palestine' and criticizes Israel's actions in Gaza.
- Macklemore has published an official response on social media after it was confirmed that he has been dropped from Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour.
- As Ed Sheeran was forced to cancel shows over severe weather, Macklemore quickly sold out his Free Palestine Tour.
- Author Sarah Helm, married to Jonathan Powell, wrote to back novelist Sally Rooney’s support of proscribed direct action group Author Sarah Helm, married to Jonathan Powell, wrote to back novelist Sally Rooney’s support of proscribed direct action group The UK’s national security adviser, Jonathan Powell, is under pressure to distance himself from a comment made by his wife, the award-winning writer Sarah Helm, in support of Palestine Action.
- Now, here’s more on what happened just this week in Palestine: The official death toll in Gaza from Israel’s genocide topped 74,000, the Palestinian Ministry of Health said.