King’s College London reinstates student suspended over pro-Palestinian protests

King’s College London (KCL) has announced that Usama Ghanem, a 22-year-old Egyptian student, will be reinstated following an 18-month suspension. Ghanem was previously suspended and faced visa cancellation proceedings due to his involvement in student-led pro-Palestinian protests.

In a recent communication, the university stated that Ghanem has met the necessary requirements and that there is “no reason for your suspension or exclusion to remain in effect,” noting that no violations were found. The university has invited him to re-enroll for the 2026/27 academic year and has initiated the process to restore his visa sponsorship.

Ghanem, who has denied all allegations of misconduct, described the decision as a “major precedent” for students advocating for Palestinian rights. His case had previously drawn criticism from academics who argued that universities in the UK and US were disproportionately targeting Muslim and minority students for participating in legal pro-Palestinian demonstrations.