Hasan Piker says UK denied his travel authorization over antisemitism claims

Hasan Piker said British authorities denied his Electronic Travel Authorization, blocking a planned trip that included appearances at SXSW London and the Oxford Union.

Piker told viewers on Twitch that the decision stemmed from allegations of antisemitism, which he rejected. He accused pro-Israel advocacy organizations of pressuring the UK government and said the move reflected a broader crackdown on anti-Israel voices.

The denial came after several British Jewish organizations urged the Home Office to block his entry. The Jewish Leadership Council and Community Security Trust cited his past remarks about Hamas, Hezbollah, Zionism and Orthodox Jews, arguing his presence would not be conducive to the public good. Labour MP David David Taylor also called for the Home Office to revoke the authorization.

Piker said he had visited the UK before and that the complaints involved statements he had made previously. He described the decision as evidence that criticism of Israel is being conflated with antisemitism.

The streamer had also faced recent scrutiny in the United States. The Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Asset Control sent him an administrative subpoena seeking records tied to a March trip to Cuba. The move is part of an investigation into whether he violated U.S. sanctions laws.

Piker linked the UK decision to his association with Progressive International, the group that organized the Cuba convoy. He also discussed Treasury scrutiny of activist networks tied to Neville Roy Singham, an American businessman living in Shanghai who has funded groups including CodePink, the Party for Socialism and Liberation and the ANSWER Coalition.

Last week, hecklers confronted Piker outside an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Newark, New Jersey, calling him a fraud and a dog abuser. Piker has denied allegations that he used a shock collar on his dog.

Piker said he and his team were considering whether to apply for a standard visa. He warned that other countries, including Australia and Canada, could follow the UK's lead.