UK bars Swedish academic from entering over Palestine event

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 30 Oct, 13:07 · Archive

The UK Home Office has cancelled Swedish academic Andreas Malm's travel authorisation, saying his presence is 'not conducive to the public good'.

The UK Home Office has cancelled Swedish academic Andreas Malm's Electronic Travel Authorisation, preventing him from entering the country. The decision came a week before Malm was due to appear on a panel organised by Tribune magazine in London. Huda Ammori, co-founder of Palestine Action – which the UK has proscribed as a terrorist group – was also scheduled to appear on the panel, to be chaired by Hala Hanina of Palestine Deep Dive.

Malm, a senior lecturer in human ecology at Lund University in Sweden, told the BBC he had received a letter from the Home Office stating his presence was 'not conducive to the public good' with no further details given. He said he could see 'no other explanation' for the denial of entry than his scheduled appearance with Ammori. Malm stated he is not a member of Palestine Action, has never publicly endorsed it, and has given it no financial support, criticising the decision as 'guilt by association'. The Home Office said it did not comment on individual cases.

Malm told Al Jazeera he has regularly visited the UK for decades and his position on Palestine has always been public. He said he had not written or spoken publicly about Palestine in recent months before the decision. He called the move a 'severe restriction on the free exchange of ideas'.

How it is being reported

• Swedish academic denied UK entry ahead of speech alongside Palestine Action founderAndreas Malm had been due to speak at an event organised by Palestine Action co-founder Huda AmmoriThe Independent · 30 Oct, 12:53
• Swedish academic says he has been barred from UK over event with Palestine Action founderAndreas Malm was due to appear on a panel alongside a co-founder of the proscribed group next week.BBC World · 30 Oct, 12:36
• UK denies entry to Swedish academic due to speak at Palestine eventHome Office cancels Andreas Malm's planned travel to the UK, saying his presence 'not conducive to the public good'.Al Jazeera · 30 Oct, 06:50

In this story: Andreas Malm · Huda Ammori · Palestine Action · Tribune · Lund University · UK Home Office · United Kingdom · Sweden

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