Free speech activists condemn UK entry ban for two leftwing US commentators

The UK is failing to protect freedom of speech, prominent activists have said, after the government banned two leftwing US political commentators from entering the country to attend speaking engagements. Cenk Uygur, the host of the Young Turks online political talkshow, and Hasan Piker, who runs his own hours-long stream each day, were both due to appear at SXSW London, while the former said he had also been due to speak at an event run by University of Oxford students. The Home Office said the two men had their electronic travel authorisations (ETA) cancelled because their presence in the UK “may not be conducive to the public good”. Uygur has been accused of propagating antisemitic tropes in his criticism of Israel. He has insisted that his criticisms are confined to an analysis of Israeli influence over US policymaking, saying on Monday: “The mighty United Kingdom is afraid of speech that shows you who’s responsible for … war crimes. But no amount of censorship will get us to stop telling the truth.” Cenk Uygur, host of the Young Turks talkshow. Photograph: YouTube Piker 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”. …