Orban bans Kneecap from Hungary
Viktor Orban, the prime minister of Hungary, has barred Liam Og O hAnnaidh, Naoise O Caireallain, and JJ O Dochartaigh, from the country.
They had been scheduled to perform at Sziget Festival on Aug 11, and remain on the line-up on its website.
Zoltan Kovacs, a government spokesman, wrote on X that the decision to ban Kneecap was because its 'members repeatedly engage in anti-Semitic hate speech supporting terrorism and terrorist groups'.
He said: 'Hungary has zero tolerance for anti-Semitism in any form.'
Saying the performance posed a 'national security threat', the government has 'formally banned' Kneecap for three years, the spokesman added. 'If they enter, expulsion will follow under international norms.'
Kneecap responded with a statement on X saying the group would 'fight on for what is right'.
It read: 'To the tens of thousands of fans who we were buzzing to see in person at Sziget, we're sorry we won't be with you.
'There is no legal basis for his actions, no member of Kneecap has ever been convicted of any crimes in any country.'
Kneecap has had several shows cancelled in recent months, including at the TRNSMT festival in Glasgow and the Eden Project in Cornwall.
The band claims this is part of a smear campaign because of their vocal support for Palestine and criticism of Israel's actions in Gaza, which they say is a genocide.
The trio were formed in Belfast and released their first single in 2017.
It comes after Mr O hAnnaidh, who performs under the name Mo Chara, was charged with a terror offence relating to allegedly displaying a flag in support of Hezbollah.
In May, the Metropolitan Police said the group was being investigated by counter-terrorism police after videos emerged allegedly showing them shouting ' Up Hamas, up Hezbollah ' and 'Kill your local MP'.
Kneecap apologised to the families of murdered MPs and said they have 'never supported' Hamas or Hezbollah, which are banned in the UK.
The rap trio were also investigated over their set at the Glastonbury Festival in June, but last week Avon and Somerset Police confirmed that it would be taking no further action against the trio after one member urged the crowd to 'start up a riot' outside court next month.
Police said footage of Kneecap's comments at Worthy Farm was 'insufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction for any offence'.
Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, told The Telegraph: 'This is another example of two-tier justice. One of the band said on stage, 'let's start a riot in court', referring to an upcoming court appearance on a different matter. This is clearly inciting violence, yet he's been let off scot free.'
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