In the face of adversity, the Belfast hip-hop group Kneecap continues its European tour despite facing various bans and cancellations. The Irish-language trio is set to perform in front of an estimated 40,000 fans at the prestigious Rock en Seine festival near Paris, only days after one member defended a terrorism charge at a court in London.
The French interior ministry gave the green light for Kneecap’s performance at the Domaine National de Saint-Cloud, ruling that there is no risk of public order disturbances that could have led to the band being barred. The band has committed to a code of conduct, averting an earlier ban from a festival at Lac de Malsaucy Belfort in July. They have been adhering to this code, as assured by the interior minister, Bruno Retailleau.
Retailleau has stated that any transgressions will be promptly addressed. However, Caroline Yadan, a French MP, has accused Kneecap of promoting Islamist terrorism and inciting hate and violence against Jews. In response, the city council of Saint-Cloud withdrew €40,000 of funding for Rock en Seine, asserting that they do not support political action, demands, or incitement to violence.
Kneecap, founded in 2017 by Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap, and DJ Próvaí, gained fame with their candid songs about Irish identity and drug culture. Nonetheless, the group attracted political scrutiny with their stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, accusing Israel of genocide against Palestinians during their performance at Coachella in California.
Their tour has faced intense reaction across Europe, with performances canceled in Austria, Germany, and Hungary due to political pressures and security concerns. These decisions were made amid investigations into incendiary comments made by the band during their 2023 UK tour, including expressions of support for Hamas and Hezbollah, and calls for violence against Members of Parliament. However, Kneecap has apologized for any hurt caused and denied supporting such organizations or encouraging violence.
Liam Óg Ó hannaigh, also known as Mo Chara, is currently on bail after facing a terrorism charge related to displaying a Hezbollah flag at a gig in London. Meanwhile, their concert in Vienna was canceled, although they have successfully performed in Poland, Finland, Norway, and Belgium. Upcoming shows in Copenhagen and Amsterdam are set to go ahead. While authorities in these cities stated that the band is considered innocent until proven guilty and that they do not support violence, these decisions have sparked debate about the balance between free expression and the potential for promoting harmful ideologies.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/aug/22/kneecap-press-on-european-tour-hungary-ban-cancelled-gigs
