British interior officials have barred The Young Turks founder Cenk Uygur and political streamer Hasan Piker from entering the United Kingdom, preventing both men from participating in the upcoming SXSW London festival and a scheduled lecture at the University of Oxford. The British Home Office confirmed in a statement that travel authorizations for the individuals had been cancelled, declaring that their presence in the UK "may not be conducive to the public good."
While the Home Office did not explicitly reference Israel in its formal explanation, both commentators stated on social media that the denials were a direct consequence of their public criticism of the Israeli government. Uygur, 56, reported that he was notified of the restriction while attempting to board a flight to London. He alleged that authorities characterized his claim that "Israel controls the American government through donations to 94% of Congress" as antisemitic, labeling him a "serious risk to the public order."
Uygur, whose YouTube channel attracts over 200 million views per month according to SXSW promotional materials, expressed defiance regarding the ban. "It’s an honor to have made Israel's enemies list," he wrote on X, adding that he was proud to have "fought against their genocide." He further described the government's reasoning as "Kafkaesque," questioning the consistency of a policy that bars speech critical of a foreign government.
His 34-year-old nephew, Hasan Piker, who maintains a daily audience of 30,000 on Twitch, also confirmed his visa had been revoked. Piker alleged the decision was made "at the behest of Israel" and argued that the UK was betraying "liberal values" to support a "genocidal fascist foreign government." Piker had been scheduled to speak at SXSW on the topic of "How the American Left Learned to Speak the Internet," while Uygur was slated to discuss "Techno-Feudalism."
The travel ban occurs against a backdrop of increased scrutiny regarding foreign speakers in the UK. In May, the British government barred 11 individuals described as "foreign far-right agitators" from entering the country for an event organized by anti-Islam activist Tommy Robinson. Additionally, the situation has drawn attention from U.S. political figures, with Donald Trump and JD Vance recently raising concerns regarding alleged infringements on free speech within Britain.
Beyond the UK travel restrictions, Piker faces separate legal developments in the United States. According to a report by Fox News, the US Treasury Department has subpoenaed Piker and CodePink co-founder Medea Benjamin as part of an investigation into whether activists violated US sanctions during travel to Cuba. Sources cited by Fox News indicated the investigation involves approximately 40 US citizens, including individuals linked to Gaza-bound flotillas and activist Thiago Avila. The probe is also reportedly examining the travel funding of Isra Hirsi, the daughter of Representative Ilhan Omar.
