Kneecap terror charge sparks political row in Wales
Green Man urged to drop Irish group amid Gaza comments and terror charge controversy
A MEMBER of Northern Irish rap group Kneecap has been charged with a terrorism offence, prompting a political backlash and renewed calls for the group to be removed from the line-up of Wales' Green Man Festival.
Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, who performs under the name Mo Chara, is accused of displaying a Hezbollah flag at a London gig last November. The 27-year-old is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on June 18, charged under anti-terror legislation. The Metropolitan Police said the flag was allegedly displayed 'in such a way or in such circumstances as to arouse reasonable suspicion' of support for a proscribed organisation.
The Belfast-based trio, who rap in Irish and are known for their anti-establishment lyrics, strongly deny the charge and say the case amounts to 'political policing' aimed at silencing their criticism of the Israeli government's war in Gaza.
In a statement released on Thursday (May 22), Kneecap said: '14,000 babies are about to die of starvation in Gaza, with food sent by the world sitting on the other side of a wall, and once again the British establishment is focused on us. This is a carnival of distraction. We are not the story — genocide is.'
The group added that they would 'vehemently contest' the charge, which they claim is designed to restrict their ability to travel and perform. They said: 'This is an attempt to silence artists who dare speak out.'
The charge comes after Kneecap used a recent performance at California's Coachella festival to denounce Israel's military action in Gaza. The group has been the subject of controversy in the UK press, with videos circulating from earlier performances that appear to show provocative political statements and banners referencing banned organisations.
While the group has distanced itself from any formal support for Hamas or Hezbollah, it continues to face criticism from campaigners and politicians.
In Wales, Shadow Minister for Culture and North Wales, Gareth Davies MS, has called for the Green Man Festival to remove Kneecap from its 2025 line-up. He previously wrote to the festival's organisers on April 28, citing concerns over 'violent and extremist rhetoric' and warning that platforming the group risks damaging the festival's reputation.
Following the announcement of the terror charge, Mr Davies renewed his demand, stating: 'It's deeply concerning that Green Man have remained silent even after terror charges have been brought against a member of this group.
'There is a clear pattern of violent and extremist rhetoric associated with Kneecap that has no place at a respected cultural event in Wales. The festival acted quickly in 2019 to remove Meic Stevens over anti-Muslim comments. The same consistency should be applied here.'
Organisers of the Green Man Festival have yet to respond publicly.
Meanwhile, in the Republic of Ireland, Tánaiste Simon Harris declined to comment on the specific case but condemned the actions of Israel in Gaza, stating that recent attacks amounted to a 'consistent pattern of war crimes' and that 'we're very much now in the space of genocidal activity'.
The Campaign Against Antisemitism, which reported Kneecap to the police, welcomed the prosecution and called for 'the law to be enforced'.
The case is likely to further inflame tensions over freedom of expression, political activism, and public performances in Wales and beyond, particularly as summer festivals prepare to welcome artists with diverse — and often controversial — viewpoints.
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