Internet personality Hasan Piker and his uncle, political commentator Cenk Uygur, were denied entry to the United Kingdom because their presence would “not be conducive to the public good” due to comments made about Israel, according to multiple reports. Piker and Uygur were traveling to London to attend SXSW London — a film, music, and tech festival — when the pair’s electronic travel authorization was canceled, barring them from entering the country. The Home Office said canceling Piker and Uygur’s ETA was a decision “based solely on an assessment of the potential risk an individual may pose to U.K. society.”
Uygur, the host of political talk show The Young Turks, said he was banned for “criticizing Israel,” and told fans he will no longer attend the festival or be there for a planned speech at the University of Oxford.
“I tried to get on a flight to London to attend SXSW London and give a speech at Oxford,” Uygur posted on X. “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 responded to his uncle’s post, claiming the ban was “at the behest of Israel.”
“[The U.K.] has revoked my visa as well,” Piker said. “[All] at the behest of israel. the west is betraying “liberal values” for a genocidal fascist foreign government. soon we will all become israel.”
