A prominent Swedish academic has been denied entry into the United Kingdom, a decision he believes is tied to his scheduled appearance at a public event featuring a co-founder of the proscribed group Palestine Action. Andreas Malm, a senior lecturer in human ecology at Sweden’s Lund University, reported that he received a formal notification from the UK Home Office stating that his presence in the country was "not conducive to the public good." The notice provided no specific reasoning for the exclusion, leaving the academic to speculate on the government's motives.
Malm, known for his work on climate politics and his 2021 book, How to Blow Up a Pipeline, was slated to participate in a panel discussion in London alongside Huda Ammori. Ammori is a co-founder of Palestine Action, an organisation that the UK government has designated a proscribed terrorist group. Speaking to the BBC Radio 4 Today programme, Malm suggested that the upcoming event, organised by the left-wing magazine Tribune, was the primary factor behind the government's intervention. He explicitly denied any formal membership or financial ties to Palestine Action, criticising the decision as an instance of "guilt by association."
While the Home Office maintains a policy of not commenting on individual cases, it possesses broad legal discretion to bar foreign nationals from entering the UK if they are deemed to pose a risk to society. Malm acknowledged that he had previously made controversial remarks regarding the 7 October 2023 Hamas-led attacks on Israel, which he had described in a December 2023 talk as "fundamentally an act of liberation," even while condemning the killing of civilians. He suggested these past comments could have influenced the Home Office, though he noted that his views have been public for some time and did not prevent him from entering the country for a talk as recently as May.
The restriction on Malm arrives amid ongoing legal scrutiny surrounding the status of Palestine Action. The UK Supreme Court is currently preparing to review the organisation's ban under terrorism legislation, a move the Home Office has pledged to contest. Official figures indicate that more than 3,700 people have been arrested in the UK in connection with alleged support for the group, with approximately 2,500 individuals having been charged. To date, however, no trials have reached a conclusion as the broader legal challenge against the proscription remains active.
The exclusion of international speakers has become a notable point of contention in UK public life. In April, the government blocked 11 individuals, whom the then-Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer termed "far-right agitators," from entering the country for a rally. Similarly, rapper Kanye West was denied entry earlier this year following significant backlash regarding a series of antisemitic and racist remarks. Additionally, political commentators Hasan Piker and Cenk Uygur alleged that their UK visas were revoked in June, claiming the action was taken due to their public criticism of Israel.
Malm, who also authored the 2025 book The Destruction of Palestine is the Destruction of the Earth, described the government's move as a "severe restriction on the free exchange of ideas." He insisted that he did not expect the British state to align with his political views on the climate or the Middle East. Instead, he argued that his expectation was for the UK to maintain an open environment where diverse perspectives can be debated. As the situation develops, the academic continues to seek clarity from the Home Office regarding the specific justification for his travel ban.
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