Cenk Uygur, the host of the Young Turks online political talkshow, and Hasan Piker, a popular Twitch streamer, have been banned from entering the UK by British Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood. The two were scheduled to speak at events during SXSW London, a festival focused on creativity, and Uygur also planned to address the Oxford Union on Friday. The decision has ignited a political controversy and raised concerns that Prime Minister Keir Starmer's government is suppressing public debate.
Who Are They?
Cenk Uygur, 56, is an activist and attorney known for his left-leaning populist views and substantial YouTube following. He founded the Young Turks, a well-established progressive media outlet, and briefly campaigned for the Democratic nomination in the 2024 US presidential election. Hasan Piker, 34, is Uygur's nephew and a Twitch streamer with a combined following of over 11 million across social media platforms. He began campaigning with Democratic candidates this spring and has become a prominent figure on the US political left, particularly among young male audiences, through his discussions of politics, foreign policy, and the flaws of the American system.
How Were They Banned?
The Home Office confirmed that the electronic travel authorisation (ETA) for both men has been cancelled because their presence in the UK "may not be conducive to the public good." Any foreign national wishing to visit the UK requires permission, either via a visa or an ETA, both of which can be refused for various reasons. The rules grant the home secretary broad discretionary powers to exclude individuals based on conduct, character, associations, or other reasons deemed not conducive to the public good.
Why Were They Banned?
No official on-the-record statement has been provided, but it is understood that both men were blocked due to concerns that they could exacerbate antisemitism. This follows calls from Labour MP David Taylor, Christian Fisher (a survivor of the 7/7 bombings), and other MPs and campaigners to block Piker's visa. Uygur has described Israel's actions as "genocide," "barbaric," and "savage," and accused Israel of using Jews as "human shields." He has been accused of promoting antisemitic tropes in his criticism of Israel but insists his criticism is limited to Israeli influence on US policy. Piker has referred to Orthodox Jews as "inbreds" and in 2019 said "America deserved 9/11," for which he later apologised. He also claimed that allegations of sexual assault after the 7 October attacks were "rape fantasies" and "rape hallucinations." On the Pod Save America podcast in April, Piker said Hamas was "a thousand times better than Israel" and that he would "vote for Hamas over Israel every single time." However, Piker has also stated that antisemitism is "a canary in the coalmine of fascism" and that Jews have "always been singled out by those in power as a scapegoat for instability and economic volatility." Like Uygur, he distinguishes between opposition to Israel's actions and antisemitism.
Can the Ban Be Overturned?
There is no right to administrative review or appeal against an ETA decision. However, Uygur and Piker could reapply for entry in the future.
Who Else Has Been Banned?
In April, Mahmood used the same "not conducive to the public good" reasoning to refuse entry to rapper Kanye West (now known as Ye) due to antisemitic, racist, and pro-Nazi comments. West later apologised, attributing his remarks to bipolar disorder. Additionally, 11 far-right activists were banned from entering the UK before a rally by Tommy Robinson supporters in central London. Those banned included US-based anti-Islam influencer Valentina Gomez, Dutch influencer Eva Vlaardingerbroek, and Polish MEP Dominik Tarczyński.
