UK: Festival caught in antisemitism row over speaker ban

The South by Southwest (SXSW) London festival has confirmed a speaker ban for political commentators Hasan Piker and Cenk Uygur. They were prevented from entering the United Kingdom on 1st June, after the Home Office revoked their permission to travel, citing concerns linked to alleged antisemitic commentary, according to The National.

Piker, a streamer with around 1.9 million YouTube subscribers, and Uygur, co-founder of the political programme The Young Turks, had been scheduled to speak at the festival but were unable to travel following the government’s decision.

The UK Home Office has not publicly detailed its reasons for the speaker ban, though the exclusion is understood to be linked to comments made by both men regarding Israel and Hamas. In a previous interview with Variety, Piker rejected allegations of antisemitism, describing himself instead as “anti-Israel”.

SXSW London distanced itself from the decision, stressing that entry into the UK is determined by government authorities rather than event organisers.

A spokesperson said the festival remained committed to its programme and its broader mission of hosting a diverse range of perspectives. The organisation describes itself as a “global festival for the convergence of business, technology and creativity”. Launched in 2025, the event attracted more than 20,000 attendees in its inaugural year.

The speaker ban has prompted debate over freedom of expression and the government’s role in determining who may enter the country. Critics of the move have argued it will have wider implications for commentators who challenge official government positions on international issues.

Writer Ash Sarkar, who had been due to appear alongside Piker at the festival, criticised the decision on social media. She argued that it reflected growing political pressure surrounding discussion of Israel and suggested it represented an “authoritarian turn”.

The Home Office has yet to provide a fuller public explanation for the decision, while neither Piker nor Uygur had issued further formal statements at the time of writing.

The incident has intensified broader debate over the limits of political speech and the discretion afforded to governments in immigration and visa decisions.

The National, maghrebi.org