LONDON – British officials announced on Monday that entry into the United Kingdom has been denied to Hasan Piker, a Turkish American online personality, along with another commentator, preventing them from participating in scheduled public events.
Piker, known for his liberal political views and frequent critiques of former U.S. President Donald Trump, Israel, and the conflict in Gaza, boasts a substantial following of 2.8 million on the streaming platform Twitch.
The Home Office explained that the electronic travel authorizations for both Piker and Cenk Uygur, the host of “The Young Turks” and reportedly Piker’s uncle, were revoked. The reason given was that their presence “may not be conducive to the public good.”
According to the Home Office, such decisions to deny or cancel an ETA are strictly based on evaluating potential risks an individual might pose to British society.
Both Piker and Uygur were slated to appear at SXSW London, a festival celebrating culture, technology, and creativity, later this month. Uygur was additionally scheduled to address the Oxford Union, a renowned student debating society.
Expressing his disappointment, Piker commented on his YouTube channel, “A sad state of affairs where obviously the interests of Israel take the highest priority.”
Uygur said on X that he had been banned “for criticizing Israel. Are we free any more?”
Piker has faced criticism over some of his comments, including those in favor of the Hamas militant group, which is considered a terrorist organization in the U.K. and the U.S., among other countries.
Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing around 1,200 people and taking 251 hostage, in an attack that triggered the war in Gaza.
David Taylor, a Labour lawmaker who called for Piker to be blocked, said that “there is no reason we should open our doors to those who seek to spread hate and division, especially someone who’s supported a proscribed terror group.”
But Green Party leader Zack Polanski said that the government was “doing everything possible to silence criticism of the Israeli government.”
In April, the U.K. government barred the rapper Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, from entering the country, where he was scheduled to headline the Wireless Festival in London in July, after a backlash over his history of antisemitic remarks.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said at the time that his government “stands firmly with the Jewish community, and we will not stop in our fight to confront and defeat the poison of antisemitism.”
