Why is Hasan Piker ‘not conducive to the public good’? Because on Gaza, we punish the witness, not the crime
The UK has banned Piker and Cenk Uygur from entry – but the objectionable things they’ve said are not more dangerous than Israel itself
TL;DR
- The British government banned US commentators Hasan Piker and Cenk Uygur from entering the country, stating their presence would not be 'conducive to the public good'.
- Piker and Uygur accuse the government of denying them entry due to their criticism of Israel, a claim the author supports by contrasting their statements with those of Israeli officials and conservative commentators like Ben Shapiro.
- The article argues that the ban is part of a broader effort to manipulate fundamental moral concepts of 'good' and 'bad' concerning the situation in Gaza and the West Bank.
- The author highlights the systematic destruction in Gaza, the targeting of journalists, and the dehumanization of Palestinians in media coverage as evidence of atrocities that are being obscured.
- Criticizing Israel's actions is presented as increasingly penalized, with bans and visa restrictions hindering free speech, while Israel has increased its PR budget to control the narrative.