British authorities have denied entry to left-wing media figures Cenk Uygur and Hasan Piker, preventing both men from traveling to the United Kingdom for scheduled speaking engagements, according to statements they made Monday.

Uygur, the Turkish-American founder and co-host of the popular online program “The Young Turks,” and his nephew, political commentator and livestream personality Hasan Piker, both claimed the decision was tied to their criticism of Israel.

Britain’s Home Office confirmed that travel authorization for the two individuals had been revoked, saying only that “their presence in the UK may not be conducive to the public good.” The government’s statement did not reference Israel or provide additional details regarding the decision.

Both men had been scheduled to appear at the SXSW London festival later this week and were also expected to participate in events at the University of Oxford over the weekend.

After being prevented from traveling, Uygur publicly blamed the decision on his views regarding Israel.

“I’ve been banned for criticizing Israel. Are we free ⁠anymore?” Uygur posted, after he said he tried to board a flight.

Piker likewise accused British authorities of acting on behalf of Israeli interests.

“The UK has revoked my visa as well. All at the behest of Israel.”

According to festival organizers, Piker was slated to participate in a discussion titled “How the American Left Learned to Speak the Internet.”

Uygur, meanwhile, had been scheduled to speak on a panel called “Techno-Feudalism is Here. Who Are the Lords?”

Neither speaker’s event description on the SXSW London website referenced Israel. The festival describes itself as a gathering focused on business, technology, and creativity.

The controversy comes amid ongoing debate over free speech policies in Britain. Over the past year, President Trump and Vice President JD Vance have repeatedly expressed concern about what they characterize as restrictions on freedom of expression in the United Kingdom.

The British government has previously taken similar actions against foreign speakers. In May, authorities barred 11 individuals described as “foreign far-right agitators” from entering the country to participate in an event organized by anti-Islam activist Tommy Robinson.

Uygur, 56, commands a substantial online audience through “The Young Turks,” which the SXSW London website says generates more than 200 million views each month.

He also briefly sought the Democratic presidential nomination during the 2024 election cycle.

Piker, 34, has become one of the most prominent political personalities on the livestreaming platform Twitch, where, according to SXSW organizers, he regularly draws an audience of approximately 30,000 viewers per day.