Kneecap promises legal action after Canadian ban 

Mo Chara and Móglaí Bap performing on the main stage at Electric Picnic. File picture: Larry Cummins

Canada has barred Belfast rap trio Kneecap from entering the country ahead of its scheduled concerts next month, accusing the band of promoting hate and violence and supporting terrorist groups, a member of the Liberal government announced on Friday.

In response, Kneecap has said it will take legal action against a member of the Canadian government for statements made about the group.

Kneecap regularly display pro-Palestinian messages during their gigs. At the Glastonbury Festival in England in June, frontman Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh - known by the stage name Mo Chara - accused Israel of committing war crimes.

Vince Gasparro, Canada’s parliamentary secretary for combatting crime, said in a video on X that the members of the group have been deemed ineligible to enter the country because of actions and statements that violate Canadian law.

He said the group has amplified political violence and has publicly displayed support for terrorist organisations, including Hezbollah and Hamas.

“Advocating for political violence, glorifying terrorist organisations and displaying hate symbols that directly target the Jewish community are not protected forms of expression and will not be tolerated by our government,” Gasparro said.

Canada’s immigration ministry didn’t immediately respond to a request for more details.

In response, Kneecap issued a statement saying that Mr Gasparro's comment were "wholly untrue" and "deeply malicious".

The band has now threatened legal action against Mr Gasparro. 

"No member of Kneecap has ever been convicted of ANY crime in ANY country. Ever," the statement said.

"We have today instructed our lawyers to initiate legal action against you. We will be relentless in defending ourselves against baseless accusations to silence our opposition to a genocide being committed by Israel.

"When we beat you in court, which we will, we will donate every cent to assist some of the thousands of child amputees in Gaza."

The band has said previously that its members do not support Hamas or Hezbollah, and that it condemns “all attacks on civilians, always”.

In May, Ó hAnnaidh was charged with a terrorism offence in Britain for allegedly displaying a flag in support of Hezbollah during a performance in London in November 2024. He denies the offence, saying the flag was thrown on stage during its performance.

Kneecap had four Canadian concerts scheduled in October.