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Irish-language rap band Kneecap mentioned on Thursday {that a} cost of a terrorism offence in opposition to considered one of its members for displaying a flag of banned militant group Hezbollah represented an try to prosecute artists who communicate out.
London’s Metropolitan Police charged Liam O’Hanna, 27, one of many three members of the Belfast-based band, on Wednesday, saying he displayed a flag “in such a way or in such circumstances as to arouse reasonable suspicion that he is a supporter of a proscribed organisation,” on this case recognized as Hezbollah.
In an announcement on X, the band mentioned the cost represented “political policing” and sought “to prosecute artists who dare speak out.” The trio mentioned O’Hanna displayed a flag that had been thrown on stage. They didn’t point out Hezbollah.
O’Hanna, 27, is because of seem in court docket on June 18.
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Kneecap, who rap about Irish identification and help the republican reason behind uniting Northern Ireland, a part of the United Kingdom, with the Republic of Ireland, confronted backlash over pro-Palestinian messages projected throughout their set final month on the annual music pageant Coachella in California.
“Let us be unequivocal: we do not, and have never, supported Hamas or Hezbollah,” they mentioned on X final month about two teams banned in Britain. “We condemn all attacks on civilians, always. It is never okay. We know this more than anyone, given our nation’s history.”
The trio apologized in April to the households of two murdered British members of the parliament after footage emerged of them showing to say “kill your local MP” throughout a 2023 efficiency.
Kneecap is because of play on the Glastonbury Festival in England in June. Some lawmakers have known as on the pageant organizers to cancel their look.