U.S. political commentators say U.K. barred them "for criticizing Israel"

World U.S. political commentators Cenk Uygur and Hasan Piker say U.K. denying them entry "for criticizing Israel" By Anhelina Shamlii Anhelina Shamlii Desk Producer Anhelina Shamlii is a News Desk Producer at the CBS News London Bureau. Read Full Bio Anhelina Shamlii June 1, 2026 / 12:12 PM EDT / CBS News Add CBS News on Google London — Two prominent left-wing American political commentators who had been due to speak at events in the United Kingdom have been denied entry to the country as the British government deemed their presence a risk "to the public good."  Cenk Uygur, a co-creator of the Young Turks political talk show, and Hasan Piker, also known as HasanAbi, who runs hours-long daily streams on Twitch and has one of the platform's most followed accounts, have been prevented from entering the U.K. to attend the SXSW London event."I've been banned from the UK" wrote Uygur in a social media post Sunday night. "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!"Responding to the post, Piker told his 1.6 million followers on X that his U.K. entry clearance was also revoked."The UK has revoked my visa as well," he said. "All at the behest of Israel. The West is betraying 'liberal values for a genocidal fascist foreign government. Soon we will all become Israel." Hasan Piker, left, and Cenk Uygur, founder, CEO and host of The Young Turks, attend The Young Turks Watchdog Correspondents Preamble Party, in an April 28, 2018 file photo taken in Washington, D.C. Kris Connor/Getty/for The Young Turks The Home Office, the British government agency responsible for immigration and homeland security, confirmed to CBS News that Uygur and Piker were denied entry based on an "assessment of potential risks an individual may pose to UK society."It said the government...