UK Denies Entry to Cenk Uygur and Hasan Piker Over Hamas Support Concerns Ahead of SXSW London

The British government denied entry to American political commentators Cenk Uygur and Hasan Piker, determining that their presence would not be conducive to the public good. The two had planned to attend the SXSW London event, which begins Monday.

Society. Britain's Times newspaper reported that the ruling was based on a perceived risk of exacerbating antisemitism.

After attempting to board a flight to London for SXSW London and a speech at Oxford. "I've been banned for criticizing Israel," Uygur stated. "Are we free anymore? K.

Entry clearance had also been revoked. "The UK has revoked my visa as well," Piker wrote. "All at the behest of Israel. The West is betraying 'liberal values' for a genocidal fascist foreign government.

Piker has faced prior criticism for comments supporting Hamas and for stating during a Pod Save America podcast episode that he would vote for Hamas over Israel every single time, according to the BBC. He has described himself as anti-Israel but not antisemitic. In 2019 he apologized for saying America deserved 9/11 but did not apologize for suggesting Hamas was 1,000 times better than Israel.

He was previously suspended from Twitch over content the platform deemed offensive. K. should not be a platform for individuals who spread hatred or legitimize extremism.

The group called on SXSW London organizers to act responsibly and later welcomed the government's decision, telling CBS News that there must be consequences when public figures cross the line into hate speech. K. to raise its terrorism threat level to severe and cite an increasing threat of extreme right-wing terrorism.

British journalist and activist Ash Sarhar, scheduled to chair the discussion with Piker, accused the government of acting out of fear of being called antisemitic and fear of being called out for its position on the war in Gaza. K. K.