As hundreds of people gathered outside in support, a member of the Irish rap duo Kneecap appeared in a London court on Wednesday, charged with terrorism for allegedly flying a banner in favor of the Lebanese militia Hezbollah. At a Kneecap performance in London in November 2024, Liam O’Hanna, better known by his stage name as Mo Chara, is accused of waving the flag of the outlawed militant organization Hezbollah.
According to the Terrorism Act, which makes it illegal to post an item in a way that raises a reasonable suspicion that someone is a supporter of a prohibited organization, the 27-year-old was accused last month.
Kneecap, a Belfast-based group that frequently displays pro-Palestinian slogans during their performances and raps in both Irish and English, earlier claimed that the flag had been thrown on stage and characterized the accusation against O’Hanna as an effort to suppress them. Throughout the Gaza War, Kneecap has backed the Palestinian cause by rapping about drugs, working-class life, and the reunification of Ireland.
Before the hearing, O’Hanna’s supporters, including several Northern Irish politicians and musicians like Paul Weller, gathered at Westminster Magistrates’ Court.
Many people in the audience brandished placards and waved Irish and Palestinian flags as a band sang Irish tunes. “Free Palestine” and “Free Mo Chara” were yelled by supporters as he arrived, forcing him to maneuver past a crowd of photographers.
Will the case against Mo Chara be dismissed soon?
Prosecutor Michael Bisgrove informed the court that O’Hanna was well within his rights to criticize Israel and support the Palestinians, but that this was not the focus of the case.
“The allegation in this case is a wholly different thing and deals with the video recording showing that, in November of last year, Mr O’Hanna wore and displayed the flag of Hezbollah … while saying ‘up Hamas, up Hezbollah’.”
Brenda Campbell, O’Hanna’s attorney, stated that the defense will contend that the charge was filed after the six-month window for filing such a complaint.
“If we are right in relation to that, then this court has no jurisdiction and there ends the case,”
she stated.
O’Hanna only spoke in court to verify his residence, name, and birthdate. The supporters were warned by Darragh Mackin, one of his attorneys, that “the more they come after Kneecap, the louder they will get.”
What role does Kneecap play in Irish activism?
Since last year, when the previous administration attempted to prevent the band from receiving an arts grant due to its anti-British stance, the band has been at the heart of controversy in Britain. Following Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s inauguration and the Labour Party’s victory in the previous year’s legislative election, that decision was reversed.
On Saturday, the foursome will play at Glastonbury with Neil Young and Olivia Rodrigo also performing. Every summer, over 200,000 people go to a field outside the little town in western England for the globally anticipated music festival, which lasts for five days.
