Mo Chara, one of many three members of the Irish rap group Kneecap, has been charged with a terror offense for allegedly displaying the Hezbollah flag throughout a live performance, BBC Information studies. The incident occurred throughout a live performance at London’s O2 Discussion board Kentish City in November 2024, and footage of it started to flow into extra extensively following Kneecap’s Coachella efficiency, which included pro-Palestine and anti-Israel messages.
The footage exhibits Mo Chara draped within the flag of Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shiite Muslim militant group that has been designated a terrorist group by the UK since 2019. Chara additionally shouts, “Up Hamas! Up Hezbollah!” (Hamas, the Palestinian Islamist group that governs the Gaza Strip, can be designated a terrorist group in the UK.) As footage circulated, London’s Metropolitan Police introduced it will examine the web movies, as it’s unlawful, in the UK, to indicate assist publicly for Hezbollah and Hamas.
Following the launch of the investigation, Kneecap mentioned in an announcement: “Allow us to be unequivocal: we don’t, and have by no means, supported Hamas or Hezbollah. We condemn all assaults on civilians, at all times. It’s by no means okay.”
In line with BBC Information, Mo Chara, whose actual identify is Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, is due in court docket on Wednesday, June 18. Pitchfork has reached out to representatives for Kneecap for remark.
Kneecap, from Belfast, Northern Eire, launched their debut album, 3CAG, in 2018. Their second album, Tremendous Artwork, arrived in 2024, the identical 12 months because the biographical movie Kneecap.
For years, Kneecap have used their platform to indicate assist for Palestine and the Palestinian individuals. They’ve been notably vocal because the Israeli army continues its assaults on Gaza.
