UK Home Office Revokes Visas of Two US Streamers Over Anti-Israel Comment

Mon Jun 01 2026 20:31:23 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Hasan Piker and Cenk Uygur denied entry for SXSW London after UK authorities accused them of hate speech and antisemitic rhetoric.

Two left‑wing American commentators, Twitch streamer Hasan Piker and The Young Turks host Cenk Uygur, were barred from entering the United Kingdom after the Home Office cancelled their Electronic Travel Authorisations. The decision, reportedly linked to their criticism of Israel and alleged antisemitic statements, has sparked a debate over free speech and UK immigration rules.

UK Home Office Revokes Visas of Two US Streamers Over Anti-Israel Comment

In a move that has drawn sharp criticism from right‑wing MPs and backlash from civil‑rights groups, the UK Home Office cancelled the Electronic Travel Authorisations (ETAs) of two American left‑wing commentators – Twitch show host Hasan Piker and the co‑founder of The Young Turks, Cenk Uygur. The pair were slated to appear at the SXSW London festival in Shoreditch and a speaking slot in Oxford, before the visas were revoked.

Uygur posted on X that he was "banned for criticising Israel" and that the West was betraying "liberal values" for a "genocidal fascist government": source. Piker echoed the sentiment, arguing that the UK had "revoked my visa as well" and that the West was succumbing to Israel’s narrative. Both reporters later took to social media to claim their exclusion was a form of oppression.

"I've been banned for criticising Israel. Are we free any more? This is oppression of western citizens by our own governments on behalf of a different country." – Cenk Uygur, The Young Turks

The Home Office has declined to elaborate, stating that decisions to cancel ETAs consider whether an individual may pose a risk to the public good. Labour MP David Taylor praised the move, tweeting that the UK must "open our doors to those who seek to spread hate and division". The UK’s justice and immigration departments have cited a range of complaints including alleged antisemitic tropes and past statements about Holocaust groups.

Both Piker and Uygur have been long‑time critics of Israel, labeling its Gaza campaign as "barbaric" and, in Piker’s case, equating Hamas to the United States in 2019. Past remarks – such as Piker saying “America deserved 9/11” and describing Hamas as “1,000 times better” – have raised alarms in Jewish community circles. The Community Security Trust welcomed the decision, while groups such as Liberty and the Green Party praised the government for acting on "public good" concerns.

The two commentators had originally been scheduled for SXSW London events: Piker for a session titled How The American Left Learned To Speak The Internet and Uygur for a discussion on Techno‑Feudalism Is Here. Who Are The Lords? The festival spokesperson confirmed the pair’s visa cancellations, noting that the Home Office’s decisions are outside the event’s purview. Despite the setback, SXSW London continues to host more than 800 speakers, artists, and screenings across six days of political, cultural, and tech talks.

The controversy pits free‑speech advocates against immigration authorities, echoing earlier high‑profile denials such as Kanye West’s ban from the UK and the interruption of a Tommy Robinson rally. Analysts suggest the move may be part of a broader trend, with the government increasingly enforcing a "public good" standard for foreign visitors who have addressed contentious or extremist topics.