A rapper with the Israel-hating Irish band Kneecap appeared in a UK court Wednesday to face a terrorism charge for allegedly raising a flag of Iran-backed terror group Hezbollah — and saying “up Hamas” at a show.
Mo Chara, real name is Liam O’Hanna, was charged under the Terrorism Act last month for waving the flag of the banned group during a London gig in November 2024 while allegedly saying “up Hamas, up Hezbollah.”
O’Hanna arrived at London’s Westminster Magistrates’ Court with his fellow band members Móglaí Bap and DJ Próvaí.
He was released on unconditional bail until a hearing on August 20.
Kneecap gained prominence earlier this month when they performed at Coachella in front of a backdrop that read, “F–k Israel Free Palestine.”
However, prosecutor Michael Bisgrove insisted at Wednesday’s brief hearing that the case against O’Hanna was not about his “support for the people of Palestine or his criticism of Israel.”
The rapper is “well within his rights” to throw his support behind Palestine — but not defy a law that makes it illegal to display something giving reasonable suspicion of support of a known terrorist group, the prosecutor stressed, according to the BBC.
“The allegation in this case is a wholly different thing and deals with a video recording showing [Mo Chara] wore and displayed the flag of Hezbollah, a proscribed terrorist organization, while saying ‘up Hamas, up Hezbollah,’” Bisgrove alleged.
The Belfast-based musicians, who rap in Irish and English and regularly display pro-Palestine messages during their gigs, previously said the flag had been thrown on stage by someone else.
The band previously said, “We deny this ‘offense’ and will vehemently defend ourselves” — describing the charge against the rapper as an attempt to silence them.
Wednesday’s hearing saw the three band members arrive wearing “Free Mo Chara” T-shirts, with supporters waving flags reading, “Free Speech, Free Palestine.”
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During the hearing, the judge had asked whether the musician needed an Irish interpreter, according to the BBC, telling him: “We were going to have one today, but I will be blunt. We couldn’t find one.”
Kneecap doubled down on its criticism of Israel after being called out by Sharon Osbourne, claiming they were censored after pushing anti-Margaret Thatcher chants and other anti-Israel sentiments during their first show, which was reportedly cut off before their set ended.
When BBC News NI reached out to the band about Osbourne’s statements, Kneecap replied, “Statements aren’t aggressive, murdering 20,000 children is though.”
Kneecap’s manager, Daniel Lambert, spoke to Irish broadcaster RTÉ about the controversy after the fact, arguing, “If somebody is hurt by the truth, that’s something for them to be hurt by, but it’s really important to speak truth. Thankfully the lads are not afraid to do that.”
