A pro-Palestine Muslim student at King’s College London has been disqualified from becoming Student Union president despite winning in an election landslide, sparking accusations of censorship.
The news has triggered a row within the College amid growing international student protests over the complicity and silence of Western educational institutions about the Gaza genocide.
In March 2024, King’s College London Student Union (KCLSU) held what they described as a “well managed, fair, free and democratic election” for the post of Union President.
Hassan Ali received the highest number of votes after running on a pro-Gaza platform.
On March 15, the election results were announced, with Ali winning by a landslide of 1,310 votes compared to just 341 for the second-place candidate.
KCLSU has now claimed that this result was “provisional and not final” – a point not stated on their website at the time of the result announcement.
Following a backlash by students, KCLSU released a statement saying: “There was an outstanding confidential internal HR matter that needed to be resolved before the Returning Officer could declare the result and formally close the Presidential election. Following the recent completion of this HR matter, the Returning Officer has now decided that Hassan Ali cannot take part in the 2024/25 KCLSU President election.
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“On instruction of the Returning Officer, Hassan Ali has been removed as a candidate and a recount is being undertaken of the votes cast to determine who has been elected as the 2024/25 KCLSU President.”
Speaking to 5Pillars, Hassan Ali condemned his “unjust” dismissal as an attempt to silence a pro-Palestine voice on campus.
“It is with deep sadness and frustration that I reflect on my dismissal from the office of President of KCLSU, just four days into my tenure. This abrupt and unjust action not only undermines the democratic mandate given to me by the student body — who came out in unprecedented numbers to support my campaign — but also silences a crucial voice advocating for Palestinian and Muslim rights on campus.
“It is disappointing to witness the Union’s hypocritical stance on global issues. While it vocally supports Ukraine in its conflict with Russia, it remains conspicuously silent on the plight of Palestinians. This selective advocacy undermines the Union’s credibility and reveals a troubling double standard in its commitment to human rights.
“After facing a five month suspension as the Vice President, alongside two other Vice Presidents during Islamophobia Awareness Month because of our anti-genocide stance, I ran for the post of President to create change within the organisation and to uphold transparency and accountability. My removal is not just an attack on me but on the principles of democracy and fairness that every institution should uphold.”
History of supporting Palestine
Ali has a history of supporting the Palestinian cause at King’s College London and student activists have faced suspensions and alleged “intimidation” for their efforts.
In November 2023, along with two other Student Officers, Ali was suspended as KCLSU Vice-President of Welfare and Community after the three Officers posted a joint statement on social media criticising the Union for maintaining what they described as “deafening silence” on the hostilities in Gaza.
The three suspended KCLSU elected student officers accused their senior leadership of “intimidation and mistreatment,” following the suspension.
After this dispute with the KCLSU, Ali launched his presidential campaign. He was given no indication that he couldn’t run either before or during the campaign.
It was only after Ali won his landslide that the issue with his candidacy was highlighted and he was then disqualified.
It is believed the second place contender may now assume to role of President. Ali will likely remain in the post of VP following the completion of his suspension period.
Campus protests and student demands
Back in May, a student-led coalition of multiple London universities launched pro-Palestine encampments at King’s College London.
Protestors occupied university grounds and sent a list of demands to the University over what it would take for them to end their sit in demonstration.
The students demands read:
In response to the ongoing genocide in Gaza and the global student solidarity movement, we as students of King’s College London express our unreserved solidarity by holding our university and its complicity to account. We have launched our encampment at King’s College London and will continue our action until the university meets our 5 key demands:
- Condemn Israeli war crimes in Palestine.
- Boycott all Israeli academic institutions involved in maintaining occupation, apartheid, ethnic cleansing and genocide in Palestine.
- Divest from all corporations and arms manufacturers complicit in Israeli apartheid, genocide and scholasticide.
- Pledge to assist the rebuilding of Gaza’s destroyed education sector, establish academic ties with Palestinian universities and expand scholarships for Palestinian students including setting up a new scholarship in the name of Dr Maisara Al-Rayyes.
- Safeguard the freedom of speech for students, staff and allies engaging in protests and expressing Palestinian solidarity.
This was just one of dozens of similar student campus encampments which sprung up across the UK in solidarity with the Palestinians who are being slaughtered in Gaza by Israel.
Universities in Manchester, Newcastle, Oxford, Birmingham and elsewhere in London have all witnessed similar student protest action for Gaza this year.
