Banned US commentators to speak at Oxford Union via livestream

Two leftwing US political commentators who were banned from entering the UK will still speak at the Oxford Union via livestream.

The Home Office told Cenk Uygur and Hasan Piker their presence in the UK was “not conducive to the public good” when they attempted to come to London to attend this week’s SXSW London event.

The government has not commented on the specific reasons for the ban but Uygur, the host of the Young Turks podcast, has been accused of propagating antisemitic tropes in his criticism of Israel. He has insisted his criticisms are confined to analysis of Israeli influence over US policymaking.

Piker, a leftwing streamer, has faced a backlash over some of his comments, including reportedly saying on a 2019 stream that “America deserved 9/11”, a comment he later apologised for and said was “inappropriate”.

Piker has stood by his characterisation of Hamas as “1,000 times better” than Israel and his claim that he “would vote for Hamas over Israel every single time”, made in an episode of Pod Save America, the podcast hosted by former staffers for Barack Obama. Piker has said he is not antisemitic but anti-Israel.

As well as the SXSW invitation, they were also due to speak this Saturday at the Oxford Union, the world’s most prestigious debating society. The Oxford Union president, Arwa Elrayess, said: “The Oxford Union intended to host Cenk Uygur and Hasan Piker on 6 June for a discussion and head-to-head event with our members. We are deeply concerned by the revocation of both speakers’ electronic travel authorisations on the basis that their appearances would not be ‘conducive to public good’.”

She added: “The Oxford Union was founded on one principle: that ideas are challenged through debate, not silenced by decree. We have never turned a speaker away because of their political beliefs nor have we sought a permission slip from the state. We will not start now. This event will not be cancelled. The union will ensure this discussion takes place. Free speech does not require a visa. We will update our members shortly.”

SXSW London did not make such provisions for the pair. A spokesperson said: “We are aware that Cenk Uygur and Hasan Piker are unable to travel to the UK following a decision by the Home Office. They will therefore not be participating in the SXSW London programme this year.

“Decisions on entry to the UK are a matter for the Home Office and the individuals concerned. SXSW London’s role is to convene a broad range of diverse voices and perspectives. 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.”

Free speech activists criticised the government’s decision to ban the pair. Jemimah Steinfeld, the chief executive of the Index on Censorship, called it a “worrying escalation”.

Akiko Hart, the director of Liberty, called on the government to be transparent about its rationale for issuing bans, saying: “Free speech can only exist when we defend it for those we disagree with, as uncomfortable as it may feel.”