Britain blocks entry for podcasters Cenk Uygur and Hasan Piker over 'criticising Israel'
American political commentators Cenk Uygur and Hasan Piker have been barred from entering Britain to speak at the Oxford Union and the SXSW London festival, saying the move was a result of their criticism of Israel.
The Oxford Union president this morning criticised the British government, telling Middle East Eye: "We will not allow this event to be shut down."
The two were scheduled to speak at the prestigious student debating society on 6 June.
Uygur, the Turkish-American founder and host of the online news and commentary network The Young Turks, said on social media that he was barred because of his criticism of Israel.
"I've been banned from the UK," Uygur wrote. "I tried to get on a flight to London to attend SXSW London and give a speech at Oxford. I've been banned for criticizing Israel."
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The Times reported that UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood cancelled Uygur's Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) after determining that his presence in Britain would not be "conducive to the public good".
According to the newspaper, the decision was based on several factors including concerns that Uygur's rhetoric about Israel could contribute to antisemitism and community tensions.
Uygur has repeatedly criticised Israel's military campaign in Gaza and described its actions as genocide.
Political commentator and Twitch streamer Hasan Piker, Uygur's nephew, said on social media that British authorities had also revoked his visa.
"The UK has revoked my visa as well," Piker wrote, alleging the decision was made "at the behest of Israel".
Piker is also scheduled to appear at SXSW London this week. South by Southwest (SXSW) is an annual film and music event.
Oxford Union President Arwa Elrayess told MEE: "These events had been publicly announced for months, making this last-minute decision all the more troubling."
She added: "To this day, we defend freedom of speech; the right for our invited speakers to express themselves, and to be challenged, irrespective of political viewpoint."
Elrayess said the union "is exploring all available options to ensure the discussion takes place, including hosting it online."
'Banned for criticising Israel'
Prominent British journalist and commentator Piers Morgan said "WHAT? This is ridiculous" in a post on X reacting to the news.
According to Uygur, the British government said "that my charge that Israel controls the American government through donations to 94% of Congress, while factual, is antisemitic nonetheless. Don't know if facts will soon be banned in Britain.
"I didn't get banned for criticizing the UK, but for criticizing Israel. They broke the irony record by saying it was because I said Israel might control other governments. I wonder if they're going to ban themselves."
The British government is saying they're banning me because I am "a serious risk to the public order" due to my criticism of Israel.
— Cenk Uygur (@cenkuygur) May 31, 2026
They say that my charge that Israel controls the American government through donations to 94% of Congress, while factual, is antisemitic…
This comes amid an upsurge in foreign speakers being denied entry to Britain.
Last month the Home Office barred several people from entering Britain who were scheduled to speak at a far-right ally organised by anti-Islam activist Tommy Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon.
British political commentator Aaron Bastani said: "I opposed this stuff with right-wing figures - unless they’re literally inciting mass violence and murder - precisely because the state will happily use the same powers against anyone."
The Oxford Union has recently come under fire for inviting Robinson to speak at a debate on Islam. The union president, who is Palestinian, said she was committed to free speech partially because of her experience of seeing pro-Palestinian arguments being censored.
In April, the government launched a task force to consider blocking individuals deemed a threat to public order and preventing them from travelling to the UK.
The same month, the UK banned a prominent American Muslim preacher, Dr Shadee Elmasry, from entering the country over social media posts in which he criticised the West's support for Israel.
Mahmood revoked travel authorisation for Elmasry just days before he was scheduled to arrive in Britain, to give talks in Birmingham, Bolton and Ilford.
The preacher and scholar, who said his message "has always been about compassion and connection", was banned after a social media post was circulated on X, which he wrote a day after the 7 October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel.
Elmasry had posted: "They are all in this (fake or real) state of shock that the people of Gaza finally punched back (after 50 years).
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