Two American leftwing commentators barred from entering the United Kingdom will now appear remotely at an Oxford Union event instead of in person. Cenk Uygur, host of the Young Turks podcast, and Hasan Piker, a political streamer, were prevented from traveling to the UK after the Home Office deemed their presence “not conducive to the public good” when they attempted to attend the SXSW London festival, which is held in the capital this week.

The government has not publicly detailed the reasons behind the ban. Uygur has faced allegations of promoting antisemitic tropes in his critiques of Israel, accusations he denies, stating that his commentary focuses solely on the influence of Israeli policies on U.S. decision-making. Meanwhile, Piker has been embroiled in controversy over past remarks, including a 2019 statement during a live stream where he said “America deserved 9/11,” for which he later apologized and described as “inappropriate.” Piker has defended his characterization of Hamas as “1,000 times better” than Israel and has said he would vote for the group over Israel, comments made during an episode of the podcast Pod Save America. He asserts that he is anti-Israel, not antisemitic.

Both were scheduled to speak at the Oxford Union on Saturday. However, in response to the government’s ban, the debating society confirmed they would proceed with the discussion via live stream. Arwa Elrayess, president of the Oxford Union, emphasized the organization’s commitment to free speech, stating that the society does not exclude speakers based on political views nor seek government approval to host events. “Free speech does not require a visa,” Elrayess said, adding that an update would be provided to members shortly.

SXSW London, where Uygur and Piker were also expected to participate, has not arranged for remote appearances. A spokesperson for the festival noted that decisions regarding UK entry are the responsibility of the Home Office and the individuals involved.

The decision to restrict the commentators’ travel has drawn criticism from free speech advocates. Jemimah Steinfeld, chief executive of the organization Index on Censorship, described the government’s action as a “worrying escalation,” expressing concern over what some see as increasing limits on open expression.