UK bans Palestinian commentators: UK bans entry of US pro-Palestinian commentators Hassan Peake and Cenk Uyghur | World News

The British government has canceled the travel authorizations of pro-Palestinian figures Hassan Pic and Cenk Uighur, preventing them from entering the country ahead of a scheduled speaking event in London.The pair were due to attend the South by Southwest (SXSW) music festival in London this week and speak at the Oxford Union.In a statement to CNN, the Home Office confirmed it had canceled the man’s Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA), which allows eligible foreign nationals to visit the UK for short stays without a visa.The department said the decision was taken because their presence in the UK “may be detrimental to the public interest”.“Such decisions are based solely on an assessment of the potential risk an individual may pose to British society,” the Home Office said, adding that the pair were still free to apply for visas if they wished to travel to the UK.Pike, a popular online anchor known for his political commentary, said on social media that the British government had revoked his permission to enter the country.Pike told CNN he criticized the decision, saying he believed free speech and due process were undermined.Uighur, the founder of the online news and commentary program “The Young Turks,” said he learned about the restriction while trying to board a flight to London.“I was banned for criticizing Israel,” Uyghur wrote on X (formerly Twitter), claiming the move amounted to the suppression of political views.The decision drew criticism from free speech advocates, who said the action reflected growing restrictions on voices critical of Israel’s military operations in Gaza.It also attracted political criticism. Zach Polanski, leader of the Green Party in England and Wales, described the bans as “grave” and said they were “yet another clear warning” about the country’s direction, The Guardian reported.Pike has a large online audience on platforms such as Twitch,