Irish group Kneecap appears in UK court; charged with terror offence over Hezbollah flag; hundreds rally in support outside courthouse

Hundreds of supporters gathered outside Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London on Wednesday as Liam O’Hanna, known by his stage name Mo Chara, a member of the Irish rap group Kneecap — appeared in court on a terrorism-related charge.The 27-year-old rapper and member of the Belfast-based group Kneecap is accused of displaying the flag of Hezbollah, a banned Iran-backed militant group, during a concert in London in November 2024. He was charged in May under the UK’s Terrorism Act, which makes it a criminal offence to publicly show symbols in a way that could suggest support for a proscribed organisation.Mo Chara arrived in court wearing a Palestinian keffiyeh scarf and black sunglasses. The flag incident reportedly took place during a Kneecap performance, where the group claims the flag was thrown on stage by someone in the audience. They have called the charge “an attempt to silence” them.Kneecap, known for their bilingual Irish-English lyrics and provocative political messaging, often include pro-Palestinian statements in their performances. The case has drawn attention for its intersection of free expression, artistic performance, and anti-terror legislation.Chants of “Free Palestine” and “Kneecap” echoed both outside and within the court building.In the UK, showing support for Hamas and the Iran-supported Lebanese organisation Hezbollah is illegal, as both groups are prohibited. Kneecap has rejected the allegation following their recent statements criticising the Gaza war and opposing Israel. “We deny this ‘offence’ and will vehemently defend ourselves. This is political policing. This is a carnival of distraction,” the group had earlier posted on X.On Wednesday, O’Hanna received unconditional bail, with the next court date set for August 20. His court appearance was limited to confirming his personal details. Prosecutor Michael Bisgrove clarified that O’Hanna’s Palestinian support and Israeli criticism weren’t at issue.“He is well within his rights to voice his opinions and his solidarity,” Bisgrove told AFP.The prosecution focused on O’Hanna’s alleged display of “the flag of Hezbollah, a proscribed terrorist organisation, while allegedly saying ‘Up Hamas, up Hezbollah'”.The punk-rap collective maintains that the video evidence was presented without proper context.At London’s Wide Awake Festival in May, O’Hanna suggested the charge aimed to “silence us” following multiple cancelled shows.Their Scottish performance was cancelled due to safety issues, German venues withdrew their shows, and UK ministers questioned their scheduled Glastonbury appearance.The defence challenged the timing of the charge, noting it came on May 21, six months after the November 21 concert.The group performs in both Irish and English languages, viewed as bold innovators by supporters and radical elements by critics.Since their 2017 formation, they’ve courted controversy through drug-referenced lyrics, opposition to the previous Conservative government, and criticism of British control in Northern Ireland.Formed in 2017, Kneecap has often found itself at the center of controversy. Known for lyrics that reference drugs and for their strong anti-establishment views, the group has frequently clashed with the former UK Conservative government and openly opposes British rule in Northern Ireland.Last year, the group gained international recognition after a semi-fictional film inspired by their story won several awards, including at the Sundance Film Festival.