Kneecap had their upcoming Canadian exhibits abruptly canceled after the federal authorities barred the Irish Hip-Hop trio from coming into the nation, citing alleged ties to extremist teams.
The choice, introduced Friday by a prime official, has ignited a tense standoff between the Belfast-based artists and Canadian authorities.
Vince Gasparro, Parliamentary Secretary for Combating Crime, delivered the information in a video posted on-line.
“Kneecap has engaged in actions and have made statements which are opposite to Canadian values and legal guidelines which have brought about deep alarm to our authorities,” Gasparro stated. He added that the group “have amplified political violence and publicly displayed help for terrorist organizations reminiscent of Hezbollah and Hamas.”
The group, recognized for its politically charged lyrics and use of the Irish language, responded swiftly.
“We don’t, and have by no means, supported Hamas or Hezbollah. We condemn all assaults on civilians,” they stated. On social media, they referred to as the claims “wholly unfaithful and deeply malicious” and promised to “be relentless in defending ourselves in opposition to baseless accusations to silence our opposition to a genocide being dedicated by Israel.”
Kneecap—made up of Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap and DJ Próvaí—was scheduled to carry out in Toronto and Vancouver subsequent month. The ban has derailed these plans and prompted the group to discover authorized motion.
The controversy follows months of scrutiny over the trio’s political messaging.
Movies surfaced exhibiting members allegedly shouting “up Hamas, up Hezbollah” and “the one good Tory is a useless Tory” at performances. One member, Mo Chara, is at present going through terrorism expenses within the UK for allegedly waving a Hezbollah flag at a London live performance final November.
He’s due again in court docket on September 26.
Their Coachella efficiency earlier this 12 months additionally drew backlash after they led the group in “Free Palestine” chants and projected messages accusing Israel of genocide.
Sharon Osbourne was amongst those that referred to as for his or her US visas to be revoked.
Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Safety Act provides the federal government broad discretion to disclaim entry to overseas nationals suspected of selling violence or terrorism.
Immigration lawyer Richard Kurland informed CBC Information that officers can act on “cheap suspicion” with out the necessity for a felony conviction.
Jewish advocacy group B’nai Brith Canada supported the ban, saying, “Kneecap has repeatedly glorified violence and extremism. Their incitement isn’t just a hazard to the Jewish neighborhood, it’s a hazard to Canadian values and to all Canadians.”
Regardless of the criticism, the trio has earned reward for revitalizing the Irish language by Hip-Hop. Fashioned in 2017, Kneecap belongs to the post-Troubles technology in Northern Eire and sometimes weaves political themes into their music.
“It’s inconceivable to not be political right here [in Northern Ireland] if you happen to’re going to talk Irish,” Mo Chara informed NPR in 2023.
Their semi-fictional biopic gained a BAFTA award earlier this 12 months and so they carried out at Glastonbury regardless of pushback from UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who stated their look was “not applicable.”
The Canadian authorities’s transfer comes as Justice Minister Sean Fraser launched laws to criminalize the usage of terror-related symbols in hate speech.
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