UK revokes Swedish academic Andreas Malm’s travel authorisation ahead of London event with Palestine Action co-founder

Britain has cancelled the Electronic Travel Authorisation of Swedish academic and author Andreas Malm, preventing him from travelling to London days before a scheduled public appearance alongside Palestine Action co-founder Huda Ammori.

Malm said the Home Office informed him that his “presence in the UK is not considered to be conducive to the public good” but provided no further explanation. The Home Office declined to comment on his individual case.

The Lund University associate professor had been due to appear next Wednesday at an event organised by socialist magazine Tribune. Malm told Reuters he was scheduled to discuss the war in Iran, while the event also comes as Britain’s Supreme Court prepares to hear a challenge to the proscription of Palestine Action.

Malm said he suspects the cancellation is connected to his planned appearance with Ammori, but the government has not confirmed that. He said he has not publicly endorsed, promoted or financially supported Palestine Action and has travelled regularly to Britain for decades, most recently in May.

Palestine Action was proscribed as a terrorist organisation under UK law last year, making expressions of support for the group a criminal offence. The designation is currently being challenged before the Supreme Court.

Malm condemned the travel decision as a restriction on academic and political debate and said it amounted to “guilt by association.”

The Home Office told him he could instead apply for a visa, which would allow officials to consider his circumstances in greater detail. Standard visitor visa processing, however, would not be completed in time for next week’s event.