UK Bans Hasan Piker and Cenk Uygur Over Israel Criticism

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Digital Phablet – Controversial Twitch streamer Hasan Piker (also known as HasanAbi) and broadcaster Cenk Uygur have reportedly been denied entry into the United Kingdom by the Home Office ahead of SXSW London, where they were scheduled to speak.

Uygur shared on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “I’ve been banned from the UK. I tried to catch a flight to London to attend SXSW London and deliver a speech at Oxford. I’ve been banned for criticizing Israel. Are we still free? This feels like suppression of Western citizens by our own governments on behalf of a foreign nation!”

He further commented on the same platform that the UK has labeled him “a serious threat to public order” due to his criticisms of Israel.

In response, Piker revealed, “the UK has also canceled my visa. All of this at Israel’s request. The West is sacrificing ‘liberal values’ for a genocidal, fascist foreign government. Soon, we will all be Israeli.”

UK bans Hasan Piker and Cenk Uygur over comments on Israel

Both Piker and Uygur were set to speak at SXSW London — Piker was to discuss “How the American Left Learned to Speak the Internet,” while Uygur planned to present on “Techno-Feudalism Is Here. Who Are the Lords?”

According to The Times of London, UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood revoked Uygur’s electronic travel authorization (ETA), which permits travel for up to six months, citing concerns that his presence was “not in the public interest.” The decision reportedly followed Uygur’s controversial remarks regarding the country’s grooming gangs scandal and comments he made about the October 7 attacks in 2023, which some considered antisemitic.

Both figures have consistently expressed their pro-Palestinian views on social media and political programs such as Piers Morgan Uncensored. Their stance stems from the ongoing Israeli military operations in Gaza since 2023, which have resulted in the deaths of over 72,000 Palestinians and injured more than 172,000, including women and children, according to medical sources in the region.

Medical reports indicate that many victims remain trapped beneath the wreckage following ongoing bombings.

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