The UK government has canceled the travel permits of pro-Palestinian figures Hasan Peker and Cenk Uyghur, preventing them from entering the country ahead of their scheduled meetings in London.The duo were due to perform at the South by Southwest (SXSW) festival in London and speak at the Oxford Union this week.In a statement to CNN, the Home Office confirmed it had scrapped men’s Electronic Travel Authorizations (ETAs), which allow eligible foreign nationals to visit the UK without a visa for short stays.The ministry said the decision was taken because their presence in the UK “may not serve the public interest.”“Such decisions are based solely on an assessment of the potential risk the individual may pose to UK society,” the Home Office said, adding that both individuals remain free to apply for a visa if they wish to travel to Britain.Baker, a live streamer known for political commentary, said on social media that the British government had revoked his permit to enter the country.Baker told CNN he criticized the decision, arguing that freedom of expression and due process were undermined.
Uyghur, founder of online news and commentary program The Young Turks, said he learned of the restrictions while trying to board a plane to London.“I have been banned for criticizing Israel,” Uyghur wrote on X (formerly Twitter), claiming that the move amounts to the suppression of political views.
The decision drew criticism from freedom of expression advocates, who say the measure reflects increasing restrictions on voices critical of the Israeli military campaign in Gaza.It also sparked political criticism. Zak Polanski, leader of the Green Party in England and Wales, described the bans as “bleak” and said they were “another clear warning” about the direction of the country, The Guardian reported.Baker has a large online audience across platforms including Twitch, X and Instagram, while Uygur is a prominent progressive political commentator in the US and previously sought the Democratic Party nomination in the 2024 US presidential election.
