Free speech activists have condemned the UK government's decision to ban two leftwing US political commentators from entering the country, arguing that the move undermines freedom of expression. Cenk Uygur, host of The Young Turks, and Hasan Piker, a prominent streamer, were both scheduled to appear at SXSW London, with Uygur also set to speak at an Oxford University student event.
Home Office Cites Public Good Concerns
The Home Office confirmed that the electronic travel authorisations (ETA) for both men had been revoked because their presence in the UK “may not be conducive to the public good.” Uygur has faced accusations of spreading antisemitic tropes in his criticism of Israel, while Piker has been criticized for past comments, including a 2019 remark that “America deserved 9/11,” for which he later apologised. Piker has also defended calling Hamas “1,000 times better” than Israel, though he denies being antisemitic.
Activists Respond
Jemimah Steinfeld, chief executive of Index on Censorship, described the bans as a “worrying escalation.” She stated, “It’s paternalistic and assumes we are just passive consumers of views rather than people who can think, judge and challenge. Free speech is tested by hard cases and, in this instance, the UK is failing.” Akiko Hart, director of Liberty, called for transparency, saying, “Free speech can only exist when we defend it for those we disagree with.”
Zack Polanski, leader of the Green Party in England and Wales, labelled the bans “grim,” warning that they indicate a dangerous path. Ash Sarkar, a Novara Media journalist, accused the government of an “authoritarian turn motivated by Labour’s fear of being called antisemitic.”
International Reactions
In the US, Aaron Terr of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression criticised the use of immigration powers to exclude speakers based on political opinions, stating, “If the government’s decision was based purely on these individuals’ views, that should concern anyone who values free expression.” Uygur himself said, “The mighty United Kingdom is afraid of speech that shows you who’s responsible for war crimes.”
Piker had previously spoken at the Oxford Union without issue, where he condemned antisemitism. The Oxford Union’s president, Arwa Elrayess, expressed deep concern, emphasising that the union “was founded on a simple principle: that ideas should be challenged through debate, not ignored or silenced.”
