King’s College London will reinstate and re-enrol an Egyptian student who was suspended indefinitely following his participation in pro-Palestinian protests, after a university review concluded he had met the conditions of his exclusion.
Usama Ghanem, 22, will return to the university this autumn for the 2026/27 academic year, nearly 18 months after King’s College London (KCL) suspended him and moved to revoke his visa sponsorship — action that, he said, could have led to his deportation from the UK.
According to CNN, which reported the development on 17 September, Ghanem learned of the decision in an email received in late August. The email said there had been “no breaches” of the terms of his exclusion and told him: “The conditions set have been met and there is no reason for your suspension or exclusion to remain in place. Accordingly, you will be invited to re-enrol for the 2026/27 academic year and will be permitted access to King’s College London.”
Student reinstated: suspension followed protests
Ghanem’s suspension last May followed three reviews of his alleged actions during student-led demonstrations calling for the liberation of Palestinian people from Israel’s bombing and siege in Gaza, which took place in 2024 and 2025.
While the university upheld its allegations of non-academic misconduct against him — described in a letter from senior leadership as “regulatory” and “procedural breaches,” health and safety concerns, “offensive or abusive behaviour” and “operational obstruction” — the review panel determined that re-enrolment was now the appropriate outcome.
Ghanem told CNN he “unequivocally” denied the misconduct allegations, and described the outcome of the review as “a huge precedent.” He added that he would continue to press for “Palestinian rights, and the fight for divestment from all of weapons and from all complicit actors with the genocide in Gaza.”
Visa sponsorship to be revived
In a separate memo sent on 1 September, the university confirmed it would begin the process of reviving Ghanem’s visa sponsorship.
Asked by CNN about that decision, a KCL spokesperson said: “Decisions about visa sponsorship are not made by King’s but by UK Visas & Immigration, who we have a legal duty to notify of any change in student status.” The Home Office, under which UK Visas & Immigration falls, had not responded to CNN’s request for comment.
Ghanem has said he does not have lawful immigration status in a third country and that he feared for his safety if he were returned to Egypt. He has remained in Britain since the university first moved to revoke his sponsorship last May.
University defends original suspension
In a statement to CNN, a KCL spokesperson stressed that the review had always been planned: “A review of Mr Ghanem’s suspension was always scheduled to take place one year after it was put in place, as it is standard process for non-academic misconduct cases to set a specific review date.”
“Following that review, a panel determined that he had met the conditions agreed for suspension, and that re-enrolment was now the appropriate outcome,” the statement continued. “The reasons for Mr Ghanem’s original suspension were upheld by the panel and clearly communicated with him. 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 had previously told CNN in January that students at KCL “are not disciplined for lawful affiliations, including support for pro-Palestine views, nor for participating in lawful protests,” adding: “It is incorrect to suggest students with different perspectives are treated differently.”
Backlash over the case
Ghanem’s case, which CNN first covered in February, prompted public outcry from some academics, who warned against what they described as a crackdown by US and UK universities that they said disproportionately targeted Muslim students and students of colour for lawful expressions of Palestinian solidarity and legitimate criticism of Israel.
Ghanem’s UK lawyer, Franck Magennis, praised what he called “sustained legal and public efforts” by the student’s supporters.
A legal case Ghanem has filed against the university is still ongoing. It claims breaches of human rights, assault, personal injury, discrimination and harassment on the part of KCL.
Details of the reinstatement and the continuing legal proceedings remain developing, with Ghanem expected to re-enrol at the start of the new academic year.
