UK Blocks Cenk Uygur And Hasan Piker As ‘Not Conducive To Public Good’

Britain has blocked US commentators Cenk Uygur, the founder and co-host of the progressive online show The Young Turks, and Hasan Piker, a popular left-wing Twitch streamer and political influencer, from entering the country, ruling that their presence “may not be conducive to the public good” ahead of scheduled appearances at SXSW London, a major culture, media and technology festival, and the Oxford Union. 

The decision, reported Monday, followed public calls from British Jewish groups and a Labour MP to prevent Piker from using UK stages after comments they said promoted antisemitic themes, denied October 7 atrocities and appeared to support extremist groups.

Both men said the move was driven by their criticism of Israel. The Home Office did not mention Israel in its public statement, saying such decisions are based on the potential risk an individual may pose to British society.

“I didn't get banned for criticizing the UK, but for criticizing Israel,” Uygur wrote on X, calling the decision “absolutely Kafkaesque.”

Piker also accused Britain of acting because of his anti-Israel views. He said his visa was revoked “at the behest of Israel,” and claimed the West was betraying liberal values for a foreign government.

Piker has faced repeated criticism over past comments. In 2019, he said “America deserved 9/11,” a comment for which he later apologized. He has also defended his description of Hamas as “1,000 times better” than Israel and said he “would vote for Hamas over Israel every single time.” Piker says he is not antisemitic, but anti-Israel.

Before the ban, the Community Security Trust urged SXSW organizers not to allow the UK to become a platform for Piker, citing what it called his “record of promoting rhetoric that includes antisemitic themes, denial of well documented atrocities and apparent support for extremist groups.”

“The UK should not be a platform for individuals who spread hatred or legitimise extremism,” the group said.

The Jewish Leadership Council also urged action, saying Piker should not be allowed into the UK to spread “7 October denialism and apparent support for terrorist organizations to a British audience.”

Labour MP David Taylor had separately called for Piker to be barred from speaking, saying his presence was “clearly not conducive to the public good.”

The move triggered criticism from free-speech groups and from the Oxford Union. Arwa Elrayess, the Union’s president, said the organization was “deeply concerned” and was exploring options to keep the event going, including online.

“The Oxford Union was founded on a simple principle: that ideas should be challenged through debate, not ignored or silenced,” she said.

Jemimah Steinfeld, chief executive of Index on Censorship, called the decision a “worrying escalation” and said the government was failing a key free-speech test.

“Free speech is tested by hard cases and, in this instance, the UK is failing,” she said.

The Home Office said ETA decisions on these grounds are based “solely on an assessment of the potential risk an individual may pose to UK society.” The ban follows other recent UK entry restrictions against controversial foreign speakers, as Britain faces pressure over both public order and the limits of political speech.