Announcing the ban on Monday, Canadian Liberal MP and Parliamentary Secretary for Combating Crime Vince Gasparro said in a video on X the group has “amplified political violence and publicly displayed support for terrorist organisations such as Hezbollah and Hamas.”<\/p>\n
“These are not expressions of art or legitimate political critique,” Gasparro said. “They are dangerous endorsements of violence and hate.”<\/p>\n
The group responded to Gasparro in a post on X, writing that his statements are “wholly untrue and deeply malicious”.<\/p>\n
“We have today instructed our lawyers to initiate legal action against you,” the group said.<\/p>\n
The ban was welcomed by the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs in Canada. “The federal government made the right decision,” said CEO Noah Shack, adding that “incitement, hate and radicalisation have no place in this country”.<\/p>\n
Mr \u00d3 hAnnaidh had previously dismissed the UK charges against him as a “political” case intended to silence Kneecap over its pro-Palestinian advocacy.<\/p>\n
“We know this story is more than just about me and more than Kneecap \u2013 this is a story about Palestine and us as a distraction from the real story,” he told a gathered crowd in London in August following his first court appearance.<\/p>\n
A decision over whether he would stand trial for the UK charges has been delayed, with the chief magistrate saying he would make a decision on 26 September.<\/p>\n
In August, Kneecap announced it was cancelling its US tour, citing Mr \u00d3 hAnnaidh’s legal battle. The group was due to perform 15 shows in major American cities in October. <\/p>\n
At the time, the band said its four Canadian shows in Vancouver and Toronto – to be played in front of up to approximately 7,500 fans – would still go ahead.<\/p>\n
The group, originally from Belfast, was dropped by its US booking agent in April after a show at Coachella where they displayed messages that read “Israel is committing genocide against the Palestinian people” and “F**k Israel, Free Palestine.”<\/p>\n
Its members have also come under fire for their performance in Glastonbury in June, with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer saying he did not think the appearance would be “appropriate”.<\/p>\n
The group was formed in 2017 by three musicians who go by the stage names of Mo Chara (the alias used by Mr \u00d3 hAnnaidh), M\u00f3gla\u00ed Bap and DJ Pr\u00f3va\u00ed.<\/p>\n