Two anti-Israel American commentators who were denied entry to the UK will address an Oxford Union event via livestream instead, organizers said Thursday, justifying the move in the name of freedom of speech.

Earlier this week, Britain blocked Cenk Uygur, a left-wing Turkish-American media personality, and his nephew, Hasan Piker, a US left-wing commentator and influencer, from entering the country to speak at events.

The pair were to address the Oxford Union, a debating society based in the university city of Oxford and whose members primarily come from the university.

They will instead participate in the event via livestream on Saturday, June 6, the UK’s Jewish News outlet reported.

“This event will not be cancelled,” said the president of the Oxford Union Arwa Elrayess. “The Union will ensure this discussion takes place. Free speech does not require a visa.”

“The Oxford Union was founded on one principle: that ideas are challenged through debate, not silenced by decree,” she said. “We have never turned a speaker away because of their political beliefs, nor have we sought a permission slip from the state. We will not start now.”

Piker has compared Zionists to Nazis and called Orthodox Jews “inbred.” According to a report from The Times, the decision to ban Uygur was believed to be based on concerns that he would aggravate antisemitism. The newspaper noted that he has in the past repeated “classic antisemitic tropes,” including claiming that Israel controls America, and accused Israel of genocide.

Elrayess, the first person of Palestinian origin to become president of the union, is facing calls to resign after it emerged she had told other students that the Hamas October 7, 2023, invasion of southern........

© The Times of Israel