Twitch streamer Hasan Piker, who is also known as HasanAbi, and his uncle, broadcaster Cenk Uygur, cannot enter the UK to speak at SXSW London.
A representative for the United Kingdom’s Home Office told Variety that their Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) had been revoked “on the grounds that their presence in the U.K. may not be conducive to the public good. Decisions to refuse or cancel an ETA on these grounds are based solely on an assessment of the potential risk an individual may pose to U.K. society.”
They both responded on social media.
Uygur wrote on X, “I’ve been banned from the UK. I tried to get on a flight to London to attend SXSW London and give a speech at Oxford. I’ve been banned for criticizing Israel. Are we free anymore? This is oppression of Western citizens by our own governments on behalf of a different country!”
Piker also posted on the platform, “the uk has revoked my visa as well. all at the behest of israel. the west is betraying “liberal values” for a genocidal fascist foreign government. soon we will all become israel. [Sic]”
the uk has revoked my visa as well. all at the behest of israel. the west is betraying “liberal values” for a genocidal fascist foreign government. soon we will all become israel. https://t.co/UqQG1dogOI
— hasanabi (@hasanthehun) May 31, 2026
Piker was supposed to participate in a panel titled, “How the American Left Learned to Speak the Internet.” His uncle was due to speak at a panel titled, “Techno-Feudalism is Here. Who Are the Lords?”
See which celebrities support Israel and which celebrities are pro-Palestine.
Posted To:Cenk Uygur Hasan Piker
