YouTube political commentator Cenk Uygur and his nephew, Twitch streamer Hasan Piker, have been blocked entry to the UK by the Home Office, meaning they will miss scheduled talks at SXSW London this week.
In the past few minutes, the Home Office has confirmed that the pair’s Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) “has been cancelled on the grounds that their presence in the UK may not be conducive to the public good.”
An ETA allows a person to enter the UK for up to six months without a visa. The Home Office noted that, “Decisions to refuse or cancel an ETA on these grounds are based solely on an assessment of the potential risk an individual may pose to UK society.”
Uygur, the founder of left-wing politics channel The Young Turks, had posted a series of messages on social media saying his right to travel had been refused, with Piker later posting a similar note.
“I’ve been banned from the UK,” wrote Uygur. “I have tried to get on a flight 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!”
Piker linked in Uygur’s original note and wrote: “The UK has revoked my visa as well. All at the behest of Israel.”
Both men have long been critical of Israel, accusing the country of “genocide” over its military attacks in Palestine. Since the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, well over 70,000 people have died in Palestine, according to the health ministry.
Uygur – who is CEO of The Young Turks and has appeared on the likes of CNN, ABC News’ This Week with George Stephanopoulos and NPR – was due to appear at SXSW London on Wednesday for a talk titled ‘Techno-Feudalism is Here. Who Are the Lords?’, while Piker had planned to appear a day later for a session titled ‘How the American Left Learned to Speak the Internet.’
Piker has stoked controversy in the past for advocating for Hamas over Israel and has reportedly said “America deserved 9/11,” though he later apologized for the comment. Uygur, who briefly campaigned for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2024, is also critical of Israel’s influence on the U.S. Reports in the UK press say the blocks were made to lessen the risk of exacerbating antisemitism.
SXSW London begins this morning and runs through the week.
