THE British government blocked two left-wing US activists from entering the country for an event in an “absurd and cowardly” decision, it emerged on Monday.

Streamer Hasan Piker and The Young Turks co-founder Cenk Uygur said they were banned from coming into Britain.

Mr Uygur wrote on X: “I tried to get on a flight to London to attend SXSW London and give a speech at Oxford.

“I’ve been banned for criticising Israel. Are we free anymore?”

He said the government’s reasons were “deeply ironic and incredibly flimsy,” adding: “Under their reasoning, 60 per cent of Americans and billions of people can be banned from UK for criticising Israel.”

The Times reported that Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood decided to ban Mr Uygur as it could “risk exacerbating antisemitism due to his rhetoric” and his “concerning” comments about grooming gangs.

Mr Piker, known online as HasanAbi, said Britain had also revoked his visa “at the behest of Israel,” adding: “The West is betraying ‘liberal values’ for a genocidal fascist foreign government.”

In a video, the streamer said he had been set to attend events with Islington MP Jeremy Corbyn, Green leader Zack Polanski, and politician and economist Yanis Varoufakis.

Mr Piker has faced a backlash over comments, including reportedly saying in 2019 that “America deserved 9/11,” which he later acknowledged as “inappropriate,” and that he “would vote for Hamas over Israel every single time.”

Mr Corbyn said: “Banning Cenk Uygur and Hasan Piker from entering the UK is an absurd and cowardly decision from an increasingly authoritarian government.

“Let us call this what it is: an attack on the freedom to criticise Israel, as well as the UK government’s own complicity in genocide.”

Mr Uygur was due to speak at the Oxford Union on Friday. Its president, Arwa Elrayess said they were “deeply concerned,” adding: “We will not allow this event to be shut down.

“The union is exploring all available options to ensure the discussion takes place, including hosting it online.”

It comes after the government blocked 11 foreign nationals described by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer as “far-right agitators” from entering Britain ahead of a Tommy Robinson-led far-right rally in central London last month.

On the banning of Mr Piker and Mr Uygur, the Home Office said their travel authorisations were cancelled because their “presence in the UK may not be conducive to the public good.”