Swedish climate scholar Andreas Malm blocked from UK entry before Tribune conference
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Andreas Malm, a Swedish academic known for his climate and anti-capitalist writing, was refused entry to the United Kingdom ahead of a speaking event, drawing sharp criticism from organizers and author Sally Rooney.
Swedish associate professor of human ecology Andreas Malm was barred from entering the United Kingdom after immigration officials said his presence "may not be considered to be conducive to the public good." The decision came as Malm was scheduled to headline a Tribune magazine conference on "Washington’s global reign of terror and Britain’s role in reinforcing it," where he was to speak alongside Huda Ammori, a co-founder of the banned group Palestine Action.
Malm, author of How to Blow Up a Pipeline, expressed disappointment, stating he had visited the UK for decades for research and academic engagements and urged the government to reverse the ban. The Home Office declined to comment on individual cases.
The event was also set to discuss the recent ban on Palestine Action, including its impact on author Sally Rooney, who has withdrawn her books from UK sales in protest. Rooney described the decision to deny Malm entry as a "sad and frightening act of cultural self-harm."
Tribune editor Oliver Eagleton noted the irony of Malm being prevented from speaking about free-speech concerns at an event focused on censorship. Earlier this year, US commentators Cenk Uygur and Hasan Piker faced similar entry refusals on comparable grounds.