Kneecap Member Charged With Terror Offense, Band Vows to “Vehemently Defend Ourselves”

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Liam Óg Ó Hannaidh, who is part of the three-member Irish hip-hop collective known as Kneecap, has faced accusations of a terrorist-related crime in the United Kingdom.

The artist known by the stage name Mo Chara, who was famously depicted in Rich Peppiatt’s “print the legend” biopic about the Belfast-based band, has been accused of displaying a flag supporting the proscribed organization Hezbollah during a performance in London. This allegation comes from the Metropolitan Police, often referred to as Scotland Yard.

On November 21, 2024, a 27-year-old individual was taken into police custody following an occurrence at a location in the northern part of London. This individual’s court date has been set for June 18th.

Following the announcement of the charges, Kneecap, the band, expressed their denial and intent to fiercely defend themselves. They stated, “We reject this alleged offense.” Furthermore, they characterized the situation as political policing and referred to it as a diversionary tactic. In addition, they highlighted a more pressing issue: approximately 14,000 infants in Gaza are at risk of starvation, while aid sent from around the world remains on the other side of a barrier. Once again, they expressed their concern that the British establishment is preoccupied with them instead of addressing this critical situation.

The band asserted, “We’re aligning with the progressive flow of time. You aren’t. We’ll challenge you in a legal battle. We anticipate victory.

Over the past few months, the band has faced significant backlash. The Metropolitan Police have announced an investigation following the emergence of online videos where they appear to advocate for the demise of British government officials and cheer on “Hamas, up!”, “Hezbollah, up!” This is against the law in the U.K., as Hezbollah, a Lebanese Shia Muslim organization that combines political and military activities, is deemed a terrorist group by British authorities.

The video under scrutiny has been misrepresented, asserts the duo composed of Naoise Ó Cairealláin and J.J. Ó Dochartaigh. They’ve made it clear that they’ve never endorsed Hamas or Hezbollah.

In the previous year, the film “Kneecap,” featuring Michael Fassbender, garnered significant attention in the movie industry. Remarkably, its director, Peppiatt, equaled the record for BAFTA nominations earned by a first-time filmmaker with an impressive six nods. Notably, Peppiatt bagged one BAFTA award, specifically for exceptional debut by a British writer and director, as he was responsible for both writing and directing the movie.

However, their political stances have caused controversy, as seen when they showcased content related to the ongoing Gaza conflict during their Coachella performance in April. This action led to the termination of their concerts in Germany. Subsequently, they split from their booking agency Independent Artist Group, according to reports in The Hollywood Reporter.

Kneecap is set to headline the Wide Awake festival in South London on Friday.

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2025-05-22 11:24