UK government bans two US political commentators

AFP | London

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Britain's interior ministry on Monday said it had blocked two US-based political commentators from entering the country.

Left-wing Israel critics Cenk Uygur, 56, and his nephew Hasan Piker, 34, had been due to speak at the SXSW London festival this week.

"These individuals' Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) has been cancelled on the grounds that their presence in the UK may not be conducive to the public good," the ministry said in a statement.

Piker, 34, described by the festival's website as a streamer and creator, had been expected to to speak at an event entitled "How The American Left Learned To Speak The Internet".

Turkish-American Cenk Uygur, 56, the founder and host of The Young Turks, a left-wing YouTube channel, meanwhile, had been scheduled to take part in a discussion called "Techno-Feudalism Is Here. Who Are The Lords?" on Wednesday.

In a livestream in 2019, Piker sparked controversy when he reportedly said "America deserved 9/11", a comment he later called "inappropriate".

Uygur condemned the government's decision to refuse him entry. Piker added in his post: "the uk has revoked my visa as well. Last month, the British government also blocked US rapper Kanye West from entering the country for another festival due to his past antisemitic outbursts.