Irish-language rap band Kneecap mentioned on Thursday {that a} cost of a terrorism offence towards one in every of its members for displaying a flag of banned militant group Hezbollah represented an try and prosecute artists who converse out.
London’s Metropolitan Police charged Liam O’Hanna, 27, one of many three members of the Belfast-based band, on Wednesday, saying he displayed a flag “in such a method or in such circumstances as to arouse affordable suspicion that he’s a supporter of a proscribed organisation,” on this case recognized as Hezbollah.
In an announcement on X, the band mentioned the cost represented “political policing” and sought “to prosecute artists who dare converse out.” The trio mentioned O’Hanna displayed a flag that had been thrown on stage. They didn’t point out Hezbollah.
O’Hanna, 27, is because of seem in courtroom on June 18.
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Kneecap, who rap about Irish identification and assist the republican explanation for uniting Northern Eire, a part of the UK, with the Republic of Eire, confronted backlash over pro-Palestinian messages projected throughout their set final month on the annual music competition Coachella in California.
“Allow us to be unequivocal: we don’t, and have by no means, supported Hamas or Hezbollah,” they mentioned on X final month about two teams banned in Britain. “We condemn all assaults on civilians, at all times. It’s by no means okay. We all know this greater than anybody, given our nation’s historical past.”
The trio apologized in April to the households of two murdered British members of the parliament after footage emerged of them showing to say “kill your native MP” throughout a 2023 efficiency.
Kneecap is because of play on the Glastonbury Pageant in England in June. Some lawmakers have referred to as on the competition organizers to cancel their look.