The progressive political commentators Cenk Uygur and Hasan Piker said Monday they had been barred from entering the United Kingdom to speak at events.Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.Uygur, who co-hosts the YouTube series “The Young Turks,” and his nephew Piker, who broadcasts his commentary on the video platform Twitch, said on social media they had been blocked because of their views about Israel.In a statement, the British interior ministry said travel authorization for “these individuals” had been canceled as “their presence in the U.K.may not be conducive to the public good.” The statement did not mention Israel.The decision to “refuse or cancel” a person’s electronic travel authorization “on these grounds are based solely on an assessment of the potential risk an individual may pose to UK society,” the ministry added.Uygur and Piker had been listed to speak at the London edition of the South by Southwest festival later this week and at the University of Oxford over the weekend.“I’ve been banned for criticizing Israel.
Are we free anymore?” Uygur said in a post on X after saying he had attempted to board a flight.Cenk Uygur at Web Summit Vancouver on May 13.Vaughn Ridley / Sportsfile via Getty Images“The UK has revoked my visa as well,” Piker said in a post on X.“All at the behest of Israel.”The Israeli government did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment on Uygur’s and Piker’s posts.Piker had been slated to deliver a talk at SXSW titled “How the American Left Learned to Speak the Internet.” Uygur’s session was titled “Techno-Feudalism is Here.
Who Are the Lords?”SXSW London describes itself as a festival of “business, technology and creativity.” It is the first European version of a popular festival of the same name held annually in Austin, Texas.President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance have raised concern...