Immigration minister won't say if Canada considering barring rap groups Bob Vylan, Kneecap
OTTAWA — A prominent Jewish organization is pushing for Canada to deny entry to two bands being investigated in the U.K. after their appearance at a popular British music festival last month.
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In late June, the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs asked the ministers of public safety and immigration to bar Irish rap group Kneecap and English punk rap duo Bob Vylan.
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'I respectfully urge your offices to review the admissibility of the individuals involved with Kneecap and Bob Vylan and to assess whether their presence in Canada aligns with our country's legislation around hate speech,' vice-president of government relations David Cooper wrote in a letter to the ministers.
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Bob Vylan led a chant of 'death to the IDF,' in reference to Israel's military, at the Glastonbury Festival. One member of Kneecap had previously been charged with a terrorism offence for allegedly displaying a Hezbollah flag at an earlier performance.
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CIJA says those incidents violate 'Canadian hate speech laws' and contradict 'our core values.' It's urging supporters to write to the government in support of the ban.
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In his letter to the government, Cooper said allowing 'performers who glorify terrorism or incite hatred to enter Canada and perform here would send a deeply troubling signal.'
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Kneecap is scheduled to play in Toronto and Vancouver in October.
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The U.S. State Department revoked the visas issued to the members of Bob Vylan on June 30. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau said on social media that the U.S. acted due to the 'hateful tirade at Glastonbury, including leading the crowd in death chants.'
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'Foreigners who glorify violence and hatred are not welcome visitors to our country,' he said.
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Liberal MP Anthony Housefather welcomed the U.S. visa decision and said that same day that Canada should follow suit. He said he also raised the issue with Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree.
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'To me neither of these performers … should be admissible to Canada. And they should be refused should any request for entry happen,' Housefather said in an interview on Monday.
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