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Kneecap’s Mo Chara was in the present day granted unconditional bail on a controversial terror charge linked to an alleged show of assist for Hezbollah, the Lebanese militant group, BBC News studies. A whole lot of supporters cheered, chanted “Free Palestine,” and waved Irish and Palestinian flags outdoors Westminster Magistrates’ Court docket, the place a preliminary listening to occurred earlier than authorized arguments start on August 20. Sporting a Palestinian keffiyeh scarf, Mo Chara, whose actual identify is Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, spoke solely to verify his identification. If convicted, he faces as much as six months in jail and a superb, based on The New York Times.
Throughout the temporary listening to, prosecutor Michael Bisgrove advised the court docket that the case isn’t concerning the rapper’s “assist for the individuals of Palestine or his criticism of Israel,” including, “He’s properly inside his rights to voice his opinions and his solidarity.” As a substitute, Bisgrove stated, the case rests on footage, from a London live performance in November 2024, that appeared to indicate Mo Chara draped within the Hezbollah flag and shouting, “Up Hamas! Up Hezbollah!” Public assist of Hamas or Hezbollah is banned in the UK underneath anti-terror legal guidelines.
The Belfast rap trio got here underneath scrutiny from the Metropolitan Police after displaying pro-Palestine and anti-Israel messages at this 12 months’s Coachella, which led to the recirculation of that 2024 footage. Mo Chara’s protection lawyer, Brenda Campbell, argues the cost falls outdoors a six-month restrict, Reuters studies. “If we’re proper in relation to that, then this court docket has no jurisdiction and there ends the case,” Campbell advised the court docket.
Because the cost was filed, Kneecap have launched a statement saying, “Allow us to be unequivocal: we don’t, and have by no means, supported Hamas or Hezbollah. We condemn all assaults on civilians, at all times. It’s by no means okay.” On social media, they called the cost “political policing” and “a carnival of distraction.” The group has lengthy been vocal in its assist of Palestine and the Palestinian individuals, and has redoubled that assist in gentle of Israel’s continued assault on Gaza and the West Financial institution.
Mo Chara was joined in the present day by bandmates Naoise “Móglaí Bap” Ó Caireallain and JJ “DJ Próvaí” Ó Dochartaigh. Kneecap rose to the general public eye final 12 months, after they launched the album Fine Art and the semi-autobiographical movie Kneecap. Their stance on Palestine has led to requires them to be pulled from festivals, in addition to a groundswell of assist from followers and fellow artists. Amongst them is Paul Weller, one of many many current outdoors the courtroom in the present day.
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