Two US-based political commentators have been blocked from entering the UK to speak at an Oxford University student event following a backlash.
Hasan Piker and Cenk Uygur were due to speak at London SXSW in early June, but had their Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) cancelled by the Home Office because their presence “may not be conducive to the public good”.
Mr Piker was listed as among the speakers at an event called How The American Left Learned To Speak The Internet, while Mr Uygur was due to take part in a discussion called Techno-Feudalism Is Here. Who Are The Lords?
He was also due to speak at an event run by Oxford University students.
Mr Piker has faced a backlash over some of his comments, including reportedly saying on a livestream in 2019 that “America deserved 9/11”, which he later acknowledged was “inappropriate”.
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He said last month that he stood by comments that Hamas was “1,000 times better” than Israel and that he “would vote for Hamas over Israel every single time” in an episode of Pod Save America.
Mr Piker said he was not antisemitic but “anti-Israel” in an interview with Variety last year.
According to The Times, the decision to block Mr Uygur, who is Mr Piker’s uncle, was based on concerns his presence would risk exacerbating antisemitism.
Posting on X, Mr Uygur said: “I’ve been banned from the UK.
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“I tried to get on a flight to London to attend SXSW London and give a speech at Oxford. I’ve been banned for criticising Israel. Are we free any more?
“This is oppression of western citizens by our own governments on behalf of a different country.”
Replying to his post, Mr Piker said: “The UK has revoked my visa as well. All at the behest of Israel. The West is betraying ‘liberal values’ for a genocidal fascist foreign government. Soon we will all become Israel.”
The Home Office’s decision comes after Labour MP David Taylor called for Mr Piker to be blocked.
He said: “It’s a real relief that the Home Office has revoked Hasan Piker’s visa.
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“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.
“SXSW London must now review its vetting policies to ensure this doesn’t happen again.”
Jewish community group CST had also urged organisers not to allow the UK to be a “platform” for Mr Piker.
The festival has been approached for comment.
Reacting to the move, Green Party leader Zack Polanski said: “This is a really grim decision.
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“People often talk about (the) dangerous road we’d go down under a Reform government – this is another clear warning we’re down there already.
“A Labour government doing everything possible to silence criticism of the Israeli government.”
The latest ETA cancellation comes after Kanye West, who has used Nazi imagery and faced accusations of antisemitism, was barred from travelling to the UK to headline Wireless festival.
The Government also blocked 11 foreign nationals described by Sir Keir Starmer as “far-right agitators” from entering the UK ahead of a Tommy Robinson-led rally in central London earlier this month.
Those claiming to have been barred include Polish politician Dominik Tarczynski, Belgian politician Filip Dewinter, anti-Islam commentator Valentina Gomez and Dutch activist Eva Vlaardingerbroek.
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