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Home Office cancels ETAs
The UK Home Office barred left-wing US commentators Hasan “HasanAbi” Piker and Cenk Uygur from entering the country ahead of SXSW London, cancelling their Electronic Travel Authorisations on the grounds that their presence “may not be conducive to the public good.”
“Over the weekend, leftist Twitch streamer Hasan “HasanAbi” Piker and his uncle, The Young Turks co-creator Cenk Uygur, revealed that they’ve been banned from entering the UK ahead of planned speaking engagements at this week’s SXSW London event”
Sky News reported that Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood cancelled the two ETAs and that both men were booked to appear at South by Southwest in London before their entry was revoked.
CBS News said the British government deemed their presence a risk “to the public good,” and it quoted Uygur writing, “I’ve been banned from the UK.”
CBS News also quoted Piker saying, “The UK has revoked my visa as well,” and it described the Home Office’s position that the decision was based on an assessment of potential risk to UK society.
SXSW, critics, and replies
SXSW responded to the ban by saying, “We are aware that Cenk Uygur and Hasan Piker are unable to travel to the UK following a decision by the Home Office,” and it said they would not be participating in the SXSW London programme this year.
In the same Reuters-style framing, SXSW added that “Decisions on entry to the UK are a matter for the Home Office and the individuals concerned,” and it said SXSW London’s role was to convene “a broad range of diverse voices and perspectives.”
Oxford Union president Arwa Elrayess said she was “deeply concerned by the revocation of both speakers' Electronic Travel Authorisations on the basis that their appearances would not be 'conducive to the public good'.”
Labour MP David Taylor praised the Home Office decision, writing on X, “There's no reason to open our doors to those who seek to spread hate and division, especially to those who've supported a proscribed terror group.”
Panels missed, debate continues
The Home Office decision meant Uygur and Piker would miss their planned SXSW London talks, with CBS News noting they were prevented from entering to attend the SXSW London event.
“US political commentators denied entry to UK by Home Office Two left-wing content creators have been blocked from entering the United Kingdom after they said the Home Office revoked their visas”
CBS News said Uygur posted that he tried to board a flight to London to attend SXSW London and give a speech at Oxford, while Piker told his followers on X that his entry clearance was revoked.
NBC News reported that Uygur and Piker had been listed to speak at SXSW London and at the University of Oxford over the weekend, and it quoted the Home Office statement that travel authorization was cancelled because “their presence in the U.K. may not be conducive to the public good.”
BBC reported that SXSW London is a six-day event in East London’s Shoreditch and that a spokesperson said, “Decisions on entry to the UK are a matter for the Home Office and the individuals concerned,” while adding, “We remain focused on delivering a programme this week fostering open dialogue and exchange of ideas and featuring more than 800 speakers, artists and screenings.”
