Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleTwo US left-wing commentators, Cenk Uygur and Hasan Piker, have been banned from entering the UK to speak at the SXSW London conference. Their Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) was cancelled by the Home Office, citing that their presence may not be conducive to the public good. Both commentators have linked their bans to their previous criticism of Israel, with reports also indicating concerns about Uygur exacerbating antisemitism and Piker having a history of controversial remarks. Green Party leader Zack Polanski criticised the decision as 'really grim', suggesting it represents a move to silence criticism of the Israeli Government. The Jewish organisation Community Security Trust had previously urged SXSW not to provide a platform for Piker due to his 'record of promoting rhetoric that includes antisemitic themes'. In fullTwo left-wing US political commentators banned from UKThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in
Zack Polanski describes banning of left-wing US commentators from UK as ‘really grim’
Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleTwo US left-wing commentators, Cenk Uygur and Hasan Piker, have been banned from entering the UK to speak at the SXSW London conference. Their Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) was cancelled by the Home Office, citing that their presence may not be conducive to the public good. Both commentators have linked their bans to their previous criticism of Israel, with reports also indicating concerns about Uygur exacerbating antisemitism and Piker having a history of controversial remarks. Green Party leader Zack Polanski criticised the decision as 'really grim', suggesting it represents a move to silence criticism of the Israeli Government. The Jewish organisation Community Security Trust had previously urged SXSW not to provide a platform for Piker due to his 'record of promoting rhetoric that includes antisemitic themes'. In fullTwo left-wing US political commentators banned from UKThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in
