LONDON – In a decision that has reignited fierce debate over free expression, immigration policy and the politics of the Gaza conflict, UK authorities confirmed Monday that two high-profile American progressive political commentators have been barred from entering the country ahead of scheduled public appearances. Turkish-American streamer Hasan Piker, who boasts 2.8 million followers on the Twitch streaming platform and is known for sharp criticism of former U.S. President Donald Trump, Israeli government policy, and the ongoing military campaign in Gaza, was among those denied entry. He was joined by his uncle Cenk Uygur, founder and host of the popular online political talk show *The Young Turks*.
The UK Home Office confirmed that both men’s Electronic Travel Authorizations (ETAs) – the entry clearance required for visa-free visitors to the country – have been revoked on the official basis that their presence in the UK would not be “conducive to the public good.” In a statement following the announcement, the department clarified that decisions to refuse or cancel travel authorization on these grounds are rooted in a formal assessment of the potential risk an individual poses to British society.
The two commentators had been scheduled to speak at SXSW London, a major festival focused on culture, technology and creative industries, scheduled for this month. Uygur had also been invited to deliver an address at the Oxford Union, the centuries-old prestigious student debating society that has hosted speakers from across the global political spectrum for decades.
The ban drew immediate reaction from the two commentators, who both say they are being targeted for their public criticism of Israeli policy amid the war in Gaza. Piker, responding to the decision on his YouTube channel, argued that the move reflected the outsized influence of pro-Israel interests on UK immigration policy. “A sad state of affairs where obviously the interests of Israel take the highest priority,” he said. Uygur echoed that sentiment in a post on X, writing: “I got banned for criticizing Israel. Are we free any more?”
British officials have justified the ban by pointing to past comments by Piker that expressed support for Hamas, the militant group that governs the Gaza Strip and is designated as a proscribed terrorist organization by both the UK and U.S. The October 7, 2023 cross-border attack by Hamas that killed approximately 1,200 people and took 251 hostages triggered the ongoing Israeli military campaign in Gaza that has killed more than 34,000 Palestinians to date, according to Gaza health authorities. David Taylor, a UK Labour Party lawmaker who publicly called for Piker to be barred from the country, said there was no justification for allowing commentators who promote hate or endorse terrorism to enter the UK. “There is no reason we should open our doors to those who seek to spread hate and division, especially someone who’s supported a proscribed terror group,” Taylor said.
Critics of the decision, however, argue that the ban is part of a broader pattern of the UK government silencing legitimate criticism of Israeli policy. Zack Polanski, leader of the UK Green Party, said the government was “doing everything possible to silence criticism of the Israeli government.”
The entry ban is the latest high-profile case of the UK barring controversial public figures from entering the country. In April, the government barred American rapper Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, from entering the UK to headline the Wireless Festival in London, following widespread backlash over years of antisemitic statements. At that time, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said his administration “stands firmly with the Jewish community, and we will not stop in our fight to confront and defeat the poison of antisemitism.”