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Middle East Eye
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Middle East Eye
'Death to the IDF' chant echoes through Glastonbury Festival amid Gaza war anger
A rap duo won praise at Glastonbury Festival after leading chants of 'death to the IDF' during their Saturday performance, referencing the Israeli army, as pro-Palestinian sentiment surged among festivalgoers. London-based group Bob Vylan delivered the chant multiple times while on stage, prompting many in the crowd—some waving Palestinian flags—to echo the words. The performance came just before a scheduled appearance by Northern Irish hip-hop group Kneecap, whose vocal support for Palestinian rights has already drawn political scrutiny. The BBC streamed Bob Vylan's set live without censoring the chant or lyrics, though it later blocked the live broadcast of Kneecap's set, alleging editorial guidelines. Bob Vylan—comprising vocalist/guitarist Bobby Vylan and drummer Bobbie Vylan—are known for fusing punk, grime and hip-hop with socially conscious themes. Their lyrics frequently address racism, mental health, and gentrification in Britain's Black communities. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters Earlier in the day, British-Turkish singer Nilufer Yanya's set included a backdrop that read 'Free Free Palestine', and a banner supporting Palestine was unfurled on stage. Tensions around Kneecap's Glastonbury appearance had been mounting. One of its members, Liam Og O hAnnaidh, faces a terrorism-related charge after allegedly displaying a Hezbollah flag during a performance last year. He has yet to enter a plea and is due in court on 20 August. In a May statement, Kneecap called the charge baseless and said they would 'vehemently defend' themselves. Hezbollah is a proscribed group under UK law. Festival organiser Emily Eavis defended the lineup, saying Glastonbury remains a space for diverse voices and that 'everyone is welcome here'. 'We Are All Palestine Action' Shortly before Kneecap performance at Glastonbury Festival, Og O hAnnaidh wore a T-shirt emblazoned with the slogan 'We Are All Palestine Action.' Og O hAnnaidh appeared in the shirt referencing the direct action network Palestine Action, known for targeting entities connected to Israel's arms trade and it's ongoing war on Gaza. The photograph was published on the band's official X account just an hour ahead of their scheduled set. The British government is set to ban the direct action group Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation after activists broke into RAF Brize Norton, the largest airbase in Britain, earlier this month and spray-painted two planes while on electric scooters. The activists then evaded security and escaped the base, which they said they targeted because flights leave there daily "for RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, a base used for military operations in Gaza and across the Middle East". In response, British Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has drafted a proscription order aimed at outlawing the organisation, expected to be tabled in Parliament on Monday. If enacted, the measure would make it a criminal offence to be affiliated with, or to promote, the group. Kneecap's performance at Glastonbury Festival proceeded despite attempts to censor the musicians, including from Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who earlier in the week stated that the group "should not be performing at Glastonbury." Festival organisers issued a crowd management advisory ahead of Kneecap's show, warning attendees of potential congestion and encouraging alternative entertainment plans should the field reach capacity.
The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
BBC will NOT show Kneecap's Glastonbury set live after Keir Starmer called for them to be axed over terror charge
CONTROVERSIAL hip hop group Kneecap's Glastonbury set today will not be shown live on the BBC, the broadcaster has confirmed. Festival bosses warned 3 Naoise O Caireallain (left) and Liam Og O hAnnaidh of Irish band Kneecap on stage Credit: Getty 3 Og O hAnnaidh sits in a taxi after he left Westminster Magistrates' Court on June 18 Credit: EPA 3 Calls have been made for O Caireallain, JJ O Dochartaigh and Og O hAnnaidh to be banned from Glastonbury Credit: Getty And now the Beeb has said it will "make an on-demand version" available while the band itself posted that their set will be on "iPlayer later this evening". It comes after PM Sir Keir Starmer said the rappers should not be allowed to perform at all amid frontman Liam Og O hAnnaidh's He allegedly displaying a flag in support of proscribed terrorist group Hezbollah while saying "up Hamas, up Hezbollah" during a gig in November in Kentish Town, north London. BBC spokesperson said: 'As the broadcast partner, the BBC is bringing audiences extensive music coverage from Glastonbury, with artists booked by the festival organisers. "Whilst the BBC doesn't ban artists, our plans ensure that our programming meets our editorial guidelines. "We don't always live stream every act from the main stages and look to make an on-demand version of Kneecap's performance available on our digital platforms, alongside more than 90 other sets." The band themselves addressed a post on X to "a chairde Gael" - which means "Gaelic friends" in which they said they'd been contacted by the "propaganda wing of the regime". The post added: "They WILL put our set from Glastonbury today on the I-player later this evening for your viewing pleasure. Most read in Showbiz "The crowd expected today is far greater than West Holts capacity so "you'll need to be very early to catch us EARLY".
Middle East Eye
18-06-2025
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
Kneecap rapper granted bail on terror charge over Hezbollah flag at London gig
A London court granted unconditional bail to a member of the Irish language rap group Kneecap on Wednesday after being charged under the Terrorism Act. Liam Og O hAnnaidh, also known by his stage name Mo Chara, appeared before Westminster Magistrates' Court after being charged in May for allegedly holding a Hezbollah flag during a concert at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town in November. Under UK law, Hezbollah is a proscribed terrorist organisation, meaning expressing support for the group is illegal. No plea was heard during the hearing due to disagreements from Og O hAnnaidh's defence surrounding the date charges were lodged against the performer. Hundreds of supporters gathered outside the court in central London during Og O hAnnaidh's short hearing on Wednesday morning. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters 'Today, the truth was outed,' said a spokesperson for the group, who are from Northern Ireland, after the hearing. 'This was a rushed prosecution after the Coachella performance [in Spain] where Kneecap did not shy away from speaking truth to power. 'Oppression fears freedom of expression,' he continued. However, in their opening address, the prosecution insisted that 'this case is not about [Og O hAnnaidh's] support for Palestine or his criticism of Israel' but simply regarded the alleged flag incident. 'We deny this 'offence' and will vehemently defend ourselves. This is political policing. This is a carnival of distraction. We are not the story. Genocide is' - Kneecap statement The prosecution also mentioned another incident in which Og O hAannaidh is alleged to have said: 'Up Hamas, Up Hezbollah.' Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring, who oversaw the hearing, noted that no Irish language court interpreter had been available for Og O hAnnaidh, who performs in a mixture of English and Irish. 'We were going to have one today, but I will be blunt, we couldn't find one,' admitted Goldspring. Og O hAnnaidh could face six months' imprisonment if he is found guilty. A statement on the band's Instagram page said: 'We deny this 'offence' and will vehemently defend ourselves. This is political policing. This is a carnival of distraction. We are not the story. Genocide is.' Outside the court, crowds cheered as a van with a billboard displaying the message, 'More Blacks, More Dogs, More Irish, Mo Chara', drove past the court. A traditional Irish band was also playing to the crowds, as fans waved Irish and Palestinian flags supporting Kneecap. Darragh Mackin, one of the three barristers representing Og O hAnnaidh, said, "Kneecap has played an unrivalled role in standing up for those without a voice in Gaza." "It is difficult to comprehend a case of greater international importance in recent years," said Mackin. "Kneecap speaks truth to power when others shy away." The case continues on 20 August.
