Hundreds of protesters support Irish rapper in terror charges

Hundreds of protesters support Irish rapper in terror charges

A rapper from the Irish rap group Kneecap was greeted by hundreds of supporters with flags and banners as he appeared in court on a terror charge on Wednesday morning.

Background of the accusation

Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, who performs under the stage name Mo Chara, is accused of displaying a flag supporting the Lebanese group Hezbollah. This organization is classified as a terrorist group in the United Kingdom. The Metropolitan Police in London launched an investigation in April after a video was posted online showing Ó hAnnaidh allegedly displaying the flag during a performance in London in 2024. He has denied the allegations and said he does not support Hezbollah. Instead, he called the charges a “carnival of distraction” that distracts from current events in the Gaza Strip.

The court hearing

When he arrived at Westminster Magistrates Court in London, there was an encounter with photographers. Ó hAnnaidh, along with his bandmates Naoise O Caireallain and JJ O Dochartaigh, were greeted by enthusiastic crowds waving Palestinian flags and loudly chanting: “Free Mo Chara!” At the start of the trial, Ó hAnnaidh confirmed his name, date of birth and address to the court.

The court heard the legal arguments, with Ó hAnnaidh's defense team seeking to have the case dismissed for failing to meet the six month legal deadline. Judge Paul Goldspring adjourned the case until September 26, when he will deliver his decision.

Reactions and support

The 27-year-old left court without entering a plea and will be required to appear at the next hearing. As he left the courthouse, his supporters chanted, “Drop the charges now!” The investigation began shortly after the band performed at the Coachella music festival in California, where they projected messages on stage about Israel's war in Gaza.

On Tuesday evening, police announced public order restrictions on the protests to “prevent serious disruption” and limit gatherings to a designated area in front of the courthouse. Early on Wednesday morning, numerous protesters gathered in front of the court in central London.

The band and their messages

Speaking to CNN, one of the supporters, Mike McCusker (62), said that he has been following the band Kneecap since 2019. “I have seen them a dozen times, they have always stood against oppression,” he explained. Kneecap, who rap primarily in Irish, have developed an international following and received recognition for their efforts to revitalize the Irish language.

Formed in 2017 in Belfast, Northern Ireland, the band aims to modernize the language through their rap songs that depict their experiences following the decades-long conflict, the Troubles. Her music is characterized by references to drug and alcohol abuse as well as criticism of the British government, which has drawn her into controversy over the years.

In 2024, the three released their second studio album, Fine Art, and a self-titled semi-autobiographical feature film, which received critical acclaim and awards at both the British Independent Film Awards and the Sundance Film Festival. The band has long campaigned for the rights of Palestinians.

Future appearances

Her performance at the UK music festival Glastonbury in June came under fire after British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the group should not have performed because of the charges against Ó hAnnaidh. The band has more European festival appearances lined up for the rest of the summer, followed by a headlining concert at Wembley Arena in London on September 18th.

Reporting by CNN's Sophie Tanno.