A London university has lifted the suspension of Egyptian student Usama Ghanem, allowing him to return to his studies nearly 18 months after he was barred from campus following his involvement in pro-Palestinian protests.
Ghanem, 22, will re-enrol at King’s College London (KCL) for the 2026/27 academic year and complete his final year of an International Relations degree.
The university suspended him last year and moved to withdraw its sponsorship of his student visa, putting his ability to remain in the UK at risk.
KCL has now told Ghanem that a review found he had met the conditions attached to his suspension and exclusion, meaning the restrictions could be lifted. The university has also begun the process of reviving his visa sponsorship, although the final decision rests with UK Visas and Immigration.
Ghanem’s case arose from disciplinary proceedings linked to his participation in pro-Palestinian protests at KCL between 2024 and 2025.
According to Al Jazeera, KCL accused him of non-academic misconduct, including behaving in an intimidating or hostile manner, disrupting an event, breaching procedures and creating a health and safety concern. Ghanem has denied the allegations.
His suspension came amid a wider wave of pro-Palestinian demonstrations that spread across British universities in 2024 following the October 7, 2023 attacks by Hamas-led militants in Israel and Israel’s subsequent military campaign in Gaza.
Students established protest camps and organised demonstrations at universities including Oxford, Cambridge, University College London and Imperial College London, calling for greater protection of Palestinian civilians and changes to universities’ financial and institutional links with Israel and the arms industry.
Ghanem’s case attracted particular attention because he was an international student whose immigration status was tied to his studies.
When KCL suspended him, he was told to leave the UK during the suspension, while the withdrawal of his visa sponsorship raised the possibility of his return to Egypt.
Ghanem has also challenged the university’s actions through legal proceedings, with claims reportedly including human rights violations, discrimination, harassment, assault and personal injury.
KCL has maintained that Ghanem was not suspended for expressing political views or taking part in lawful protest, but over alleged breaches of university regulations.
The latest decision allows Ghanem to return to campus as the new academic year begins, bringing an end to an 18-month interruption of his studies.