KCL - Reinstate Usama Now
Demand that Usama is reinstated at Kings College London
BACKGROUND
Usama Ghanem is a 2nd year international student, and an active member of the Kings College London (KCL) protest and activism community, has been repeatedly targeted and penalised by KCL for his protest for the Palestinian cause.
Usama took part in the encampment at KCL in May 2024, alongside many others from the student body. He took part in a protest at a KCL Alumni event and given explicit permission to speak to the crowd, despite being given permission, Usama was physically assaulted by KCL security staff and then placed under stringent disciplinary measures for his role in the protest.
He was immediately suspended from campus pending his investigation. After following the disciplinary process, Usama was issued with an unprecedented cease-and-desist order, effectively barring him from all further involvement in protest on campus.
In February 2025, Usama attended an event on campus that invited a Zionist, pro-Israel speaker to address the students. Usama, along with some other activist students and concerned members of the public attended in order to debate with the speaker about her pro-genocide views. As a result of their protest against this speaker, Usama and the other students were doxxed and a complaint went in from the pro Zionist lobby group Campaign Against Antisemitism, or CAA, to KCL demanding that the students be disciplined for their activism and debate. Usama was yet again faced with a further disciplinary, this time resulting in an indefinite suspension from the University, which would result in the removal of his Visa. KCL told Usama to go back home as he would not be allowed to continue his studies for at least a year. KCL were fully aware of Usama's situation in his home country Egypt, where he and his family have, in the past, faced torture and political prosecution. It was made known to KCL at the time of Usama’s enrolment and again during the disciplinary process, but was disregarded in the face of appeasing bad faith, pro Zionist pressure groups such as the Campaign Against Antisemitism.
Usama faced a further disciplinary, after he joined a protest with other students in May 2025, outside KCL as they hosted the London Defence Conference (LDC) on its campus. The conference hosted the British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and numerous weapons manufacturers and private companies involved in the genocide in Gaza. The students opposed their university being used as a platform for the promotion of war by hosting those who advocated for the ongoing genocide. Despite there being numerous students present, Usama was singled out again.
After the ongoing targeting by KCL, Usama is now facing an indefinite suspension, which is to be reviewed after a year and faces losing his visa which means he is at risk of imprisonment in Egypt if he is forced to return home. Usama has just one year left of his degree in international relations.
Join us in demanding KCL's President and Principal, Professor, Shitij Kapur, to overturn the decisions taken against Usama, and to reinstate him as a student immediately.
Take Action NOW
CAGE International is an independent advocacy organisation that aspires to a just world. We challenge War on Terror inspired state oppression and empower communities to dismantle the discourse and policies of the global War on Terror.
Media and Resources
Insights from our investigations and research
What Imams and survivors say about us?
“CAGE is like Al Mu’tasim for me. They hear the cry of injustice and they respond. I ask everyone to donate to CAGE whatever you can; because they stood by me when no one did.”
Sister Maryam
“It might be better than supporting 10 da’is or scholars because they cannot do their job properly without an organisation that protects Islam and Muslims."
Shaykh Dr Haitham Al Haddad
"Torture survivor Ali Al-Marri: “I encourage you very highly to support our brothers at CAGE whom have supported me, and without Allah’s support and theirs I would have never been able to try and get my Justice from the ones who tortured me.”
Ali Al-Marri
“I extend my heartfelt thanks and support for the work of CAGE on behalf of all men and women detained without charge or trial in Guantanamo and the secret prisons. Your work is truly inspirational”.
Sami Al-Hajj
“I believe CAGE deserves to put up a signboard and write on it, honour bound to defend freedom.”
Faiz Al-Kandari
"CAGE’s work is a reminder to us all that indifference or neutrality to injustice is never an option, that the empathic disconnect in remaining silent to another's suffering is too heavy a burden for us all to bear.”
Dr Uthman Lateef
Stand with those demanding justice
Your support strengthens communities fighting for accountability and change
Dear Glenn Childs,
<br/>
I am writing to you as a concerned citizen to demand the immediate reinstatement of Usama Ghanem, a student at Kings College London.
<br/>
Usama has been repeatedly targeted by vexatious and discriminatory disciplinary investigations at Kings College London, as he attempted to exercise his right to freedom of expression through his activism and support of the Palestinian cause. As a result of his concern for the ongoing genocide, and the deaths of over 600,000 men, women, and children, Usama has been called for three separate disciplinary investigations and issued with a cease-and-desist order as well as other sanctions.
<br/>
Usama and the other students on campus have been protesting against KCL’s involvement and investment in companies complicit in the ongoing genocide in Gaza, demanding that their tuition fees are not used to fund apartheid and genocide.
<br/>
Usama has now been suspended from his course and faces the impending revocation of his visa. KCL is well aware of the serious risk that Usama faces if he is to be forced to return to Egypt and have instead chosen to put him in the way of active harm at the behest of the displeasure of Zionist pressure groups such as the Campaign Against Antisemitism, who publicly wrote to KCL before the instigation of Usama’s second disciplinary investigation.
<br/>
KCL has proven that it is more willing to protect its investments than its students, and this is grossly unacceptable. In following the example of the highly criticised treatment of Mahmoud Khalil at the hands of Trump in America, KCL has carved itself a space among the worst universities for free speech and the protection of life and liberty.
<br/>
I demand that KCL divests from companies complicit in the genocide, and as the conduct and appeals team, I urge you to look into and reverse Usama’s suspension to ensure he is reinstated as an enrolled student at Kings College London, effective immediately.<br/>
Yours sincerely,
