LONDON — Cenk Uygur and Hasan Piker say they were barred from entering the United Kingdom in May 2024. British authorities cited their public criticism of Israel as grounds for exclusion, stating their presence was not “conducive to the public good,” according to The Times of London.
British authorities told Uygur, cofounder of The Young Turks, that he was considered “a serious risk to the public order” due to his comments about Israel. Uygur stated that officials deemed his assertion—that “Israel controls the American government through donations to 94% of Congress”—to be antisemitic, even though he maintained it was factual. The British Home Office canceled his electronic travel authorisation (ETA), according to The Times of London. The newspaper also reported that the UK Home Secretary’s decision to ban Uygur was based on his recent exchanges with Piers Morgan regarding the UK’s grooming gangs scandal and concerns that his rhetoric since the October 7 attacks in 2023 could exacerbate antisemitism.
Uygur wrote on X: “I’ve been banned from the UK. I tried to get on a flight to London to attend SXSW London and give a speech at Oxford. I’ve been banned for criticizing Israel. Are we free anymore? This is oppression of Western citizens by our own governments on behalf of a different country!” He had been scheduled to speak at SXSW London on a panel titled “Techno-Feudalism is Here. Who Are the Lords?”
Political streamer Hasan Piker said his UK visa was revoked as he prepared to travel to SXSW London. He wrote on X: “the uk has revoked my visa as well. all at the behest of israel. the west is betraying “liberal values” for a genocidal fascist foreign government. soon we will all become israel.” Piker also stated that UK officials linked the decision to his criticism of Israel and used the phrase “not conducive to the public good” in denying him entry. He was scheduled to appear on a panel titled “How the American Left Learned to Speak the Internet.” On a livestream, Piker added: “Israel advocacy organisations have unbelievable amounts of power over what even the United Kingdom has to say and do; if you are an avowed anti-Zionist, your travel will be restricted.”