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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsUK bans entry, revokes visas of activists Hasan Piker, Cenk Uygur over anti-Israel rhetoric
Young Turks founder Cenk Uygur and his nephew, antisemitic left-wing streamer Hasan Piker, have been banned from the UK over their anti-Israel rhetoric, the two said in posts to X/Twitter on Monday morning.
Both individuals were expected to participate in the upcoming South by Southwest (SXSW) festival in London, the European offshoot of the Texan festival by the same name, featuring music, film, tech, and culture.
The British Home Office justified the move by declaring Uyger a serious risk to the public order following his claim that Israel controls the American government through donations to 94% of Congress, according to an X post made by the Young Turks founder.
Are we free anymore? Uyger asked in a second X post. This is oppression of Western citizens by our own governments on behalf of a different country!
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-897945
AZProgressive
(30,022 posts)His nephew I'm not familiar with his content as Twitch isn't a platform I use but his allies on Youtube say he repeatedly condemns antisemitism especially if it is coming from the right wing and separates that out with his criticism of the government of Israel.
As far as UK politics I follow Novara Media and Owen Jones and agree with what Owen Jones says here. I also think I figured out how to share a Bluesky post on DU.
The UK ban on Hasan Piker and Cenk Uygur is deeply disturbing for many reasons.
— Owen Jones (@owenjones.bsky.social) 2026-06-01T09:54:05.123Z
One: another assault on free speech, and specifically pro-Palestinian speech.
The assault on pro-Palestinian speech is the biggest assault on free speech in the West since McCarthyism 7 decades ago.
If Reform forms a government - with or without the Tories - what do you think will happen?
— Owen Jones (@owenjones.bsky.social) 2026-06-01T09:54:05.127Z
They will take all the authoritarian laws and precedents and take them to their obvious conclusion.
It's obvious where we are heading, and we need to start stating it out loud.
RandySF
(86,781 posts)1. Streamed himself electrocuting his dog.
2. Busted for human trafficking in Europe.
3. "Orthodox Jew are inbred".
4. "Democrats should shoot transgender people in the head."
5. "Hamas is a thousand times better than Israel."
6. "America deserved 9/11."
7. Once overheard at their office saying his uncle needs to hire "higher quality pussy".
8. Said that he doesn't care about Oct. 7 rapes.
9. Said the Soviet Union collapse was a terrible thing.
10. Denies China's persecution of Uyghur minorities.
11. Supports China's claim over Taiwan.
And that's just what I know of.
AZProgressive
(30,022 posts)The one saying even if Hamas committed mass rapes on October 7th that doesn't justify all of Israel's actions after October 7th. I remember from one of the Youtube hosts I follow pointed that out. That is from barely paying attention to this.
If the human trafficking and electrocuting a dog are true then he should be condemned but based on the misleading claim that he doesn't care about October 7th rapes by Hamas makes me take most claims against Piker with a grain of salt.
RandySF
(86,781 posts)We wave it all off?
mcar
(46,432 posts)Happy Hoosier
(9,651 posts)He was openly supporting terrorism. He did this on his own show while interviewing a Houthi. It's been removed from You Tube, but you can find clips out there. That's enough for me, thanks.
Happy Hoosier
(9,651 posts)He pretty much feels that abny Jew who thinks Israel has a right to exist is a filthy "zionist" even if they don't support Netenyahu. He's also a creeper. He used to openly talk about visting brothels in Europe.