Canada bars Kneecap from entering over UK terror charges
Canadian officials say the ban reflects concerns about statements linked to terrorist organizations; Kneecap pledges legal action.
Canada has barred the Irish language hip-hop group Kneecap from entering the country, saying the trio has "made statements that are contrary to Canadian values" that "have caused deep alarm." The move comes as the group was due to perform in Toronto in October, with additional shows planned in Vancouver, after a year of controversy surrounding the Belfast-based act.
Canadian officials cited terror offence charges brought against one member, Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, in the United Kingdom in May, after he allegedly displayed a flag in support of the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah — which the UK designates as a terrorist organization — at a London gig last year. Ó hAnnaidh denies the charges, and Kneecap characterized the Canadian ban as "deeply malicious" and said it would pursue legal action.
"These are not expressions of art or legitimate political critique," said Vince Gasparro, the Liberal MP and Parliamentary Secretary for Combating Crime, in a video posted on X. "They are dangerous endorsements of violence and hate." Kneecap responded on X, saying the statements were "wholly untrue and deeply malicious" and that the band had instructed their lawyers to initiate action.
Ó hAnnaidh previously described the UK charges as a "political" case intended to silence Kneecap over its pro-Palestinian advocacy. He spoke to a crowd in London in August after his first court appearance, saying the broader story was about Palestine and civil discourse being diverted from that issue. A decision on whether he would stand trial has been delayed, with the chief magistrate saying a ruling would come on 26 September.
In August, Kneecap announced it was canceling its U.S. tour due to the legal battle surrounding Ó hAnnaidh. The group had planned 15 concerts in major American cities in October, but said at the time that its Canadian dates in Vancouver and Toronto would still go ahead.
The band, formed in 2017 by Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap and DJ Próvaí, has drawn controversy for public displays during performances, including messages at Coachella that read "Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinian people" and "F**k Israel, Free Palestine." They also faced scrutiny after their Glastonbury appearance in June, with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer saying it would not be "appropriate." The group's rise has been the subject of a semi-fictional film featuring Michael Fassbender, which won a BAFTA in February.