The short version
- Swedish academic Andreas Malm was denied entry to the UK after being scheduled to speak alongside a founder of Palestine Action, a group banned as terrorist in Britain.
- Malm argues the ban relies on guilt by association and restricts free exchange, while acknowledging his past controversial remarks about the October 2023 attacks may have contributed to the decision.
- The case occurs as the UK Supreme Court reviews the legality of Palestine Action's proscription, with thousands arrested but no trials held pending the legal challenge.
A prominent Swedish climate academic has been barred from entering the United Kingdom, a move he attributes to his scheduled appearance on a panel with a co-founder of Palestine Action. Andreas Malm, a senior lecturer in human ecology at Lund University, stated that he received official notification from the Home Office declaring his presence in the country was not conducive to the public good. The letter provided no further details regarding the specific grounds for the exclusion, leaving Malm to infer that the decision was directly linked to his planned engagement with Huda Ammori.
Malm described the ban as a severe restriction on the free exchange of ideas and criticized the government for applying what he termed guilt by association. He emphasized that he is not a member of Palestine Action, has never publicly endorsed the organization, and has provided no financial support to it. According to Malm, the only connection between himself and the proscribed group is Ammori’s personal involvement as a founder. The event in question was organized by Tribune, a left-wing magazine, and was set to take place in London.
While Malm primarily cites the panel association as the cause for his exclusion, he acknowledged that his previous public statements regarding the conflict in Gaza may have also influenced the Home Office’s decision. In December 2023, during a talk where he condemned the killing of civilians, Malm characterized the Hamas-led attacks on Israel as fundamentally an act of liberation. He noted that these views had been part of the public record for months and did not prevent his entry into the UK in May of this year, suggesting that the timing of the ban correlates more closely with the upcoming event.
The Home Office declined to comment on individual immigration cases, adhering to standard protocol regarding specific visa denials. However, the government retains broad legal discretion to bar foreign nationals from entering the UK if their presence is deemed to pose a risk to society or public order. This authority has been exercised recently in various high-profile instances, including the denial of entry to Kanye West following antisemitic remarks and the exclusion of several far-right agitators ahead of a rally led by Tommy Robinson.
The controversy surrounding Malm’s ban unfolds against a complex legal backdrop involving Palestine Action itself. The UK Supreme Court is currently scheduled to review the controversial decision to ban the group under terrorism legislation. The Home Office has indicated it will robustly defend the proscription against this appeal. Since the ban was imposed, more than 3,700 people have been arrested in the UK over alleged support for the organization. Approximately 2,500 of those individuals have been charged, though no cases have proceeded to trial while the legal challenge to the group’s status remains active.
Malm’s work has drawn significant attention in recent years, particularly his 2021 book How to Blow up a Pipeline and his 2025 publication The Destruction of Palestine is the Destruction of the Earth. These texts have positioned him as a polarizing figure in climate and political discourse. Despite the controversy surrounding his writings and statements, Malm argued that the British state should allow him to enter the country to engage in debate with colleagues who disagree with his perspectives, a practice he said had been permitted for years prior to this incident.
The pattern of visa denials and entry bans has drawn criticism from various political commentators who allege selective enforcement based on political viewpoint. In June, left-wing commentators Hasan Piker and Cenk Uygur claimed their visas were revoked ahead of planned appearances in London and Oxford, alleging the moves were retaliation for criticizing Israel. These claims, alongside Malm’s experience, highlight growing tensions regarding how the UK government defines threats to public good in the context of international political discourse.
Malm stated that he does not expect the British government to agree with his positions on Palestine or climate change. His primary expectation, he said, is that the state will continue to permit his entry so he can participate in academic and public discussions. The lack of detailed justification from the Home Office leaves the precise legal reasoning behind the ban opaque, fueling Malm’s assertion that the decision serves as a punitive measure against his association with Ammori rather than a response to any direct threat posed by him.
As the Supreme Court review of Palestine Action’s proscription approaches, cases like Malm’s may serve as testaments to the practical implications of the ban. The government’s stance remains firm in defending the classification of the group as terrorist, which carries significant consequences for anyone associated with it. For academics and activists operating across borders, these decisions underscore the increasing risks involved in engaging with figures linked to proscribed organizations, regardless of their personal endorsement or membership status.
The situation remains unresolved as Malm awaits further clarification from UK authorities. The intersection of free speech, national security, and international relations continues to complicate entry policies for foreign speakers. Until the Supreme Court rules on the legality of Palestine Action’s ban, the Home Office is likely to maintain its current approach to excluding individuals associated with the group, citing public good as the primary justification for such restrictions.
Sources behind this briefing
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- BBC World↗Swedish academic says he has been barred from UK over event with Palestine Action founder
