Irish Rap group Kneecap Barred from Entering Canada
Irish rap group Kneecap has been denied entry into Canada ahead of a planned October tour. The decision stems from concerns raised by Vince Gasparro, Member of Parliament for Eglinton-Lawrence and parliamentary secretary for combating crime, who stated Kneecap “amplified political violence and publicly displayed support for organizations designated as terrorist groups in Canada, such as Hezbollah and Hamas.”
Gasparro further asserted that the group’s actions are “not expressions of art or legitimate political critique, they are perilous endorsements of violence and hate.”
Kneecap has vowed to pursue legal action against Gasparro, labeling his statements “wholly untrue and deeply malicious.” The group alleges that “Zionist lobby groups” engaged in an influence campaign leading up to the ban.
The controversy surrounding Kneecap extends beyond the Canadian ban.Member Mo Chara is currently facing a terror offense charge in the UK related to an alleged display of a Hezbollah flag during a November 2024 concert. Kneecap maintains they have never supported Hamas or Hezbollah, claiming footage from the concert has been “deliberately taken out of all context” and “weaponised.”
UK authorities briefly investigated the group following a performance at Glastonbury this summer,where they led chants including “Free,free Palestine” and criticism of UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The investigation was ultimately dropped due to “insufficient evidence.”
Prior to the Canadian ban, Kneecap canceled a scheduled October US tour due to scheduling conflicts related to Chara’s court proceedings. They subsequently announced a livestream concert for US fans on October 10th.
