Kneecap member Mo Chara has been charged with a terror offence in the UK after allegedly displaying a Hezbollah flag on stage. The group says the case is a distraction from Gaza.
Northern Irish rap trio Kneecap are facing fresh legal trouble after one of their members was charged with a terror offence in the UK.
Mo Chara, real name Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, is due in court next month after footage surfaced online showing him allegedly displaying a Hezbollah flag and shouting “Up Hamas! Up Hezbollah!” during a Kneecap show at London’s O2 Forum Kentish Town in November 2024. Both Hamas and Hezbollah are classified as terrorist organizations in the UK, making it illegal to express support for either group.
London’s Metropolitan Police say they were alerted to the video in April, with the Crown Prosecution Service officially authorizing charges against Ó hAnnaidh following a brief investigation. He is scheduled to appear before Westminster Magistrates’ Court on June 18.
The charge adds to a growing list of controversies surrounding the band. Since using their Coachella set last month to denounce Israel’s actions in Gaza and the US government’s involvement, Kneecap have claimed they’re being targeted by a “coordinated smear campaign.” Sharon Osbourne publicly called for the cancellation of their visas, German tour dates were pulled, and they’ve since parted ways with their booking agency.
While Kneecap has released a statement clearly condemning Hamas and Hezbollah, they say the current legal focus on them is “a transparent effort to derail the real conversation” about what’s happening in Gaza. “Let us be unequivocal: we do not, and have never, supported Hamas or Hezbollah,” the group wrote in a statement. “We condemn all attacks on civilians, always. It is never okay.”
“We also reject any suggestion that we would seek to incite violence against any MP or individual,” the statement continued. “Ever. An extract of footage, deliberately taken out of all context, is now being exploited and weaponised, as if it were a call to action.”
Despite the controversy, Kneecap are still scheduled to perform at London’s Wide Awake Festival on May 23. Organisers confirmed their appearance following “positive discussions with key stakeholders” and reiterated the festival’s support for alternative artists.
The group has also been teasing a new single titled The Recap featuring Mozey, while continuing to defend their outspoken stance on Palestine. With more public scrutiny and a looming court date, the political heat around Kneecap shows no signs of cooling down.
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