Kneecap Rapper Charged in UK for Displaying Hezbollah Flag During 2024 London Show
Liam O’Hanna, better known as Mo Chara from the Irish-language rap trio Kneecap, will appear before Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 18 June after being charged under the UK Terrorism Act for waving a Hezbollah flag at a concert in London last November, Al Jazeera reports.
Metropolitan Police said the 24-year-old performer faces a single count of showing support for a proscribed organisation. Hezbollah was added to the UK’s list of banned “terror” groups in 2019, making expressions of support a criminal offence.
Kneecap, formed in Belfast in 2017, is known for its satirical Irish-language lyrics, frequent references to Irish republican history and outspoken backing of Palestinian rights. Since Israel’s war in Gaza began in October 2023, the group has drawn parallels between British rule in Northern Ireland and Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories, leading pro-Palestinian chants at shows and calling Israel’s campaign “genocidal.”
The trio’s activism has drawn increasing scrutiny. In April, the band’s Coachella set in California featured a projection reading “F*** Israel. Free Palestine,” prompting criticism from some UK politicians. Earlier this month, UK security officials said they would examine footage from separate Kneecap gigs in which performers shouted slogans referencing Hamas, Hezbollah and Conservative MPs. The group insists the clips are taken out of context and that it does not support any militant organisation.
Kneecap has been lauded for revitalising interest in the Irish language among Northern Ireland’s youth but has also faced criticism for lyrics heavy with profanity and drug references. Several shows in England have been cancelled amid the controversy, and some lawmakers have urged Glastonbury Festival organisers to remove the group from its June line-up.
In a statement on Wednesday, Kneecap said it “will vigorously contest the charge” and described the prosecution as “a politically motivated attempt to silence dissent.” The band added that it “opposes all forms of racism and stands firmly against the collective punishment of civilians in Gaza.”
If convicted, O’Hanna could face up to 10 years in prison.
