{"id":121430,"date":"2025-05-22T02:56:14","date_gmt":"2025-05-22T02:56:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/121430\/"},"modified":"2025-05-22T02:56:14","modified_gmt":"2025-05-22T02:56:14","slug":"kneecaps-mo-chara-charged-with-terror-offense-for-displaying-hezbollah-flag-at-london-concert","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/121430\/","title":{"rendered":"Kneecap\u2019s Mo Chara Charged With Terror Offense for Displaying Hezbollah Flag at London Concert"},"content":{"rendered":"

Mo Chara, one of the three members of the Irish rap group Kneecap<\/a>, has been charged with a terror offense for allegedly displaying the Hezbollah flag during a concert, BBC News<\/a> reports. The incident occurred during a concert at London\u2019s O2 Forum Kentish Town in November 2024, and footage<\/a> of it began to circulate more widely following Kneecap\u2019s Coachella performance<\/a>, which included pro-Palestine and anti-Israel messages.<\/p>\n

The footage appears to show Mo Chara draped in the flag of Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shiite Muslim militant group that has been designated<\/a> a terrorist group by the United Kingdom since 2019. Chara also appears to shout, \u201cUp Hamas! Up Hezbollah!\u201d (Hamas, the Palestinian Islamist group that governs the Gaza Strip, is also designated<\/a> a terrorist organization in the United Kingdom.) As footage circulated, London\u2019s Metropolitan Police announced<\/a> it would investigate the online videos, as it is illegal, in the United Kingdom, to show support publicly for Hezbollah and Hamas.<\/p>\n

Following the launch of the investigation, Kneecap said in a statement<\/a>: \u201cLet us be unequivocal: we do not, and have never, supported Hamas or Hezbollah. We condemn all attacks on civilians, always. It is never okay.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to BBC News, Mo Chara, whose real name is Liam \u00d3g \u00d3 hAnnaidh, is due in court on Wednesday, June 18. When reached by Pitchfork, a representative for Kneecap said that band had no comment.<\/p>\n

Kneecap, from Belfast, Northern Ireland, released their first project, 3CAG<\/a>, in 2018. Their latest album, Fine Art<\/a>, arrived in 2024, the same year as the biographical film Kneecap<\/a>. Joining Mo Chara in Kneecap are Naoise \u201cM\u00f3gla\u00ed Bap\u201d \u00d3 Caireallain and JJ \u201cDJ Pr\u00f3va\u00ed\u201d \u00d3 Dochartaigh.<\/p>\n

For years, Kneecap have used their platform to show support for Palestine and the Palestinian people. They have been particularly vocal as the Israeli military continues its attacks on Gaza.<\/p>\n