Latest news with #anti-Semitic
The Irish Sun
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Kneecap banned from performing at major festival as Irish rappers accused of ‘anti-Semitic hate speech' & Hamas praise
IRISH rap stars Kneecap have been banned from performing in Hungary. The Belfast group were due to play at the Sziget Festival next month but their appearance has been blocked by the Hungarian government, who have accused them of using anti-Semitic hate speech and praising the Hamas militant group. 3 Kneecap were due to perform at Sziget next month Credit: Major Kata 3 Kneecap have been banned from entering Hungary Credit: AFP or licensors 3 A spokesperson from Hungary's government claimed Kneecap's entry would 'seriously threaten national security' Credit: Getty Images - Getty Zoltan Kovacs, a spokesman for Viktor Orban's government, said: 'Hungary's government has moved to ban Kneecap from entering the country and performing at Sziget... citing anti-Semitic hate speech and open praise for Hamas and Hezbollah as justification.' The Government spokesman posted the official letters from immigration authorities banning the band for three years, claiming that their entry would 'seriously threaten national security'. Hungary's government had earlier demanded festival organisers drop Kneecap from the line-up at the week-long event, which draws several hundred thousand music lovers to an island in the River Danube each year. More than 150 artists and cultural figures, including Academy Award-winning director Laszlo Nemes Jeles, had signed a petition protesting against Kneecap's participation. read more on kneecap However Sziget organisers, who said they had not been notified of the government's decision, have resisted the calls to scrap Kneecap's planned performance on August 11. Promoters said: 'Our festival remains true to what we have consistently achieved over the past 30 years: there is no place for hatred, incitement, prejudice, or any form of racism or anti-Semitism,' they said in a statement last week. Kneecap have yet to respond to the ban but they previously denied supporting the Palestinian terror group. In a statement, they said: 'Let us be unequivocal: we do not, and have never, supported Hamas or Hezbollah. We condemn all attacks on civilians, always. MOST READ ON THE IRISH SUN "It is never okay. We know this more than anyone, given our nation's history.' Earlier this week UK police confirmed they had dropped a criminal investigation into the performance by the Belfast rap trio at the Crowds gather as Kneecap play Glasgow gig after TRNSMT axe Avon and Somerset Police said they would be taking ' The investigation had been announced in June after officers reviewed video footage and audio recordings from the sets of Kneecap and punk duo Bob Vylan at the Somerset festival. 'CELEBRATION OF LOVE' In response the group, comprised of Liam Og O hAnnaidh, Naoise O Caireallain, and JJ O Dochartaigh, posted a screenshot to social media from an email that appeared to be from a senior investigating officer. It said: 'Following a review of the evidence, I have determined there will be no further action.' In the caption of their post, Kneecap said: 'One element of the political policing intimidation attempt is over. We played a historic set at Glastonbury. "Whole area closed an hour before due to crowds. A celebration of love and solidarity. A sea of good people at the world's most famous festival.' While another act, Bob Vylan, sparked outrage when he enticed the huge audience to chant 'death, death to the IDF [Israel Defence Forces]'.
Euronews
3 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Euronews
Irish rap band Kneecap banned from Hungary's Sziget festival
The backlash over freedom of speech and controversial Irish rappers Kneecap has intensified following Hungary's decision to ban the group from taking part in the Sziget festival. Government spokesperson Zoltán Kovács explained in a post on the X platform that the the decision to ban Kneecap from entering the country and from participating in the Sziget Festival, was due to statements deemed anti-Semitic and glorifying Hamas and Hezbollah. He later added that the immigration authorities had issued a formal decision to ban the band members from entering Hungary for three years, considering their presence a "serious threat to national security". The government had previously asked festival organisers to exclude the band from the event, which is one of Europe's biggest music festivals and attracts hundreds of thousands of music lovers to an island on the Danube every summer. Pro-Palestinian protests The Belfast-based band is known for its support of the Palestinian cause, which it openly expresses at its concerts. One of its most controversial recent appearances came at Britain's Glastonbury Festival, when lead singer Liam O'Hannah, better known by his stage name Mo Chara, accused Israel of committing war crimes. Last May, Mo Chara was charged with a terrorism-related offence in the UK for displaying a pro-Hezbollah flag. The artist denied the charge, and in previous statements, he emphasised that the band does not support either Hamas or Hezbollah, and that it "condemns all attacks on civilians, at all times". The band is by no means alone in expressing vocal support for the Palestinian cause and the enjoys enormous support from other dozens of artists and cultural figures who've signed petitions and are organising campaigns against what they deem to be censorship. Organisers of the Sziget festival say they've not had official notification of the government's decision, and reject pressure to cancel the 11 August performance. "Our festival remains true to what we have achieved over the past 30 years. There is no place for hate, incitement, prejudice or any form of racism or anti-Semitism" said Sziget in a statement. This year's edition features some of the biggest names in music, including Post Malone, Shawn Mendes and Charli XCX.
CNBC
14 hours ago
- Politics
- CNBC
Columbia agrees to pay $200 million to restore funding cut by Trump administration
Columbia University will pay $200 million to the federal government to restore the majority of funding that was cut by the Trump administration over allegations it violated anti-discrimination laws. "This agreement marks an important step forward after a period of sustained federal scrutiny and institutional uncertainty," acting university President Claire Shipman said in a statement. The Trump administration in March said it was canceling $400 million in grants to the school, accusing it of "inaction in the face of persistent harassment of Jewish students." Columbia then agreed to a list of demands by the Trump administration, which some critics saw as a capitulation by the private university. Columbia said in the Wednesday statement that under the agreement "a vast majority of the federal grants which were terminated or paused in March 2025 — will be reinstated and Columbia's access to billions of dollars in current and future grants will be restored." "This includes the reinstatement of the majority of grants previously terminated by the National Institutes of Health and the Department of Health and Human Services, renewal of non-competitive grants, the release of overdue payments on active, non-terminated grants, and Columbia's restored eligibility to apply for new federal research funding in the ordinary course," the university said. Columbia and other universities have been targeted by the Trump administration over student protests over the war in Gaza, which some Republican lawmakers have said were anti-Semitic. "While Columbia does not admit to wrongdoing with this resolution agreement, the institution's leaders have recognized, repeatedly, that Jewish students and faculty have experienced painful, unacceptable incidents, and that reform was and is needed," the university said in Wednesday's statement. Columbia said the agreement will establish a "a jointly selected independent monitor" — and that it will provide regular reports about its "continued compliance with applicable federal laws and regulations pertaining to admissions, hiring, and international students." It said the agreement also codifies changes it previously announced on campus safety, discipline and inclusion. The $200 million, termed a settlement by the university, will be paid to the government over three years. It will also pay $21 million to settle investigations by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the university said. Columbia Board of Trustees co-chairs David Greenwald and Jeh Johnson said in Wednesday's statement that the agreement "confirms the changes already underway at Columbia to meaningfully address antisemitism on our campus and allows the University to continue to undertake its transformative research and scholarship." Student protests over the war in Gaza, which Israel launched after the surprise terrorist attack by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023, took place on college campuses across the U.S., including at Columbia. President Donald Trump campaigned on attacking those protests, and since taking office his administration has sought to deport some students who took part in pro-Palestinian demonstrations by accusing them of sympathizing with Hamas. U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon called the Columbia settlement "a seismic shift in our nation's fight to hold institutions that accept American taxpayer dollars accountable for antisemitic discrimination and harassment." Brian Cohen, executive director of the Kraft Center for Jewish Student Life with Columbia/Barnard Hillel, hailed the agreement. "This announcement is an important recognition of what Jewish students and their families have expressed with increasing urgency: antisemitism at Columbia is real, and it has had a tangible impact on Jewish students' sense of safety and belonging and, in turn, their civil rights," he said. Another major Ivy League college, Harvard University, refused Trump's demands and has sued the Trump administration over threats to cut funding. That case is pending.
UPI
a day ago
- Politics
- UPI
Columbia disciplines dozens of pro-Palestine protesters
Pro Palestine protesters are arrested by NYPD Police officers on the campus of Columbia University on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, in New York City. Arrests were underway late Wednesday after about 100 pro-Palestinian protesters at Columbia University took over the campus' Butler Library just days before final exams. File Photo by Derek French/UPI | License Photo July 23 (UPI) -- Columbia University has disciplined dozens of pro-Palestine protesters amid pressure from the Trump administration, which has targeted the school amid its crackdown on left-leaning ideology. In a statement Tuesday, the school said the unspecified sanctions were administered after its University Judicial Board determined they were warranted concerning the disruption of Butler Library in May and the Spring 2024 encampment during Alumni Weekend. The number of students punished was not mentioned, but sources told CNN that it was more than 70. "While the University does not release individual disciplinary results of any student, the sanctions from Butler Library included probation, suspensions (ranging from one year to three years), degree revocations and expulsions," Columbia said in a statement. The announcement comes as the school faces pressure from the Trump administration, which has targeted universities -- in particular elite schools -- over left-leaning activism it describes as anti-Israel and anti-Semitic and diversity, equity and inclusion policies. The Trump administration has claimed protests that erupted across campuses nationwide demonstrating against Israel's war in Gaza were violent and anti-Semitic, and has used them to punish those institutions. At Columbia, pro-Palestine protesters on May 7 disrupted a portion of Butler, occupying rooms there and vandalizing property, resulting in two public safety officers sustaining injuries. In March, the Trump administration canceled some $400 million in federal grants and contracts to the university "due to the school's continued inaction in the face of persistent harassment of Jewish students." Columbia has said the halt in funding forced it to lay off 180 researchers. Columbia said since March it has responded to the Trump administration by instituting what it has called structural reforms and other improvements. "Our institution must focus on delivering on its academic mission for our community," Columbia said in the Tuesday statement. "And to create a thriving academic community, there must be respect for each other and the institution's fundamental work, policies and rules. Disruptions to academic activities are in violation of University policy and Rules, and such violations will necessarily generate consequences." Since returning to power in January, President Donald Trump has used his executive powers to go after the United States universities, in particular its Ivy League schools. In April, he signed an executive order to reform the university accreditation system to penalize those that employ DEI policies. Harvard University has taken the Trump administration to court over the president's freezing of more than $2.4 billion in what the school said was a pressure campaign "to force Harvard to submit to the government's control over its academic programs." This month, it has launched four federal investigations into George Mason University over its alleged DEI policies. The New York Chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations lambasted Columbia on Tuesday for its "grotesquely oppressive" decision to mass-punish its students. "The students sat in unity to urge ending complicity in an active genocide. Columbia, seemingly bowing to political pressure from the Trump administration, has done more than undermine free speech and higher education. The University has sold its morality, academic integrity and commitment to students," CAIR-NY executive Director Afaf Nasher said in a statement.
NZ Herald
2 days ago
- Politics
- NZ Herald
Posts by Whakatāne councillor Nandor Tānczos prompt hate crime complaint from Israel
The prestigious prize is awarded annually to the person who has 'done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses'. Whakatāne-Ōhope ward councillor Nándor Tánczos. Tánczos said he had also posted some 'anti-genocide stuff' about the war in Gaza. The councillor regularly shares news articles, opinion pieces and his own views on the conflict via his personal Facebook page. He said he was contacted through his Facebook page by a woman in Tel Aviv who accused him of anti-Semitism and said she had two children in the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) who were good people. Tánczos responded to her, explaining that he had nothing against Jewish people, only against the current actions being taken in Gaza by the IDF. Three days later, he said he received a courtesy call from the Whakatāne police. 'The woman rang them from Tel Aviv to complain about my social media posts.' Tánczos said he was surprised to learn that opposing what he believed to be genocide, was a hate crime in her eyes. He said he was assured by the police officer who phoned him that they had looked into his online activity and informed the complainant that no crime had been committed. 'The police were great. It was just a courtesy call to let me know what had happened. 'It actually made me laugh to think that someone from Tel Aviv would go as far as reporting me to the New Zealand Police about this.' Tánczos said the experience would not stop him from expressing his opinions on Facebook. 'I don't have any hesitation in denouncing Israel's actions in Gaza. I'm not anti-Semitic.' Whakatāne police were not available to comment but a senior media adviser from police national headquarters said she did not think complaints of this type were common. - LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
