A British court throws out terror-related charge against Irish-language hip-hop group Kneecap member

By Canadian Press on September 26, 2025.

LONDON (AP) — A London court on Friday threw out a terror-related charge against a member of the Irish-language hip-hop group Kneecap.

Rapper Mo Chara, whose real name is Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, had been charged with a single count for waving a flag of the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, banned in Britain as a terrorist organization, during a London concert last year.

But the chief magistrate sitting at Woolwich Crown Court said Friday the case should be thrown out following a technical error in the way the charge against the rapper was brought.

Kneecap has faced criticism for political statements seeming to glorify militant groups like Hamas and Hezbollah. Hungary and Canada have previously banned the group.

Kneecap has accused critics of trying to silence the band because of its support for the Palestinian cause throughout the war in Gaza. The band says it doesn’t support Hezbollah and Hamas nor condone violence.

The Associated Press

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