Court throws out Kneecap terror charges

Mo Chara outside the court

by New Worker correspondent

A London court has thrown out a terror-related charge against a member of the Irish-language Belfast hip-hop group Kneecap. Rapper Mo Chara (My Friend), the stage name of Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, had been charged with a single count for waving a flag of the Hezbollah Lebanese resistance movement that’s banned in Britain as a terrorist organisation during a London concert at the O2 Forum in Kentish Town last year.
But last week the chief magistrate sitting at Woolwich Crown Court said the case should be thrown out following a technical error in the way the charge against the rapper was brought.
Northern Ireland's First Minister Michelle O'Neill welcomed the move, saying "these charges were part of a calculated attempt to silence those who stand up and speak out against the Israeli genocide in Gaza”. O’Neill, who is also vice-president of Sinn Féin, said “Kneecap have used their platform on stages across the world to expose this genocide, and it is the responsibility of all of us to continue speaking out and standing against injustice in Palestine".
The Zionists say Kneecap glorifies Arab resistance movements like Hamas and Hezbollah. But the group says it doesn't support Hezbollah or Hamas or condone violence and these attacks are simply an effort to silence the band because of its support for the Palestinian cause throughout the war in Gaza. 

Keep talking about Palestine!

by New Worker correspondent

Irish rapper Liam Og O hAnnaidh, known as Mo Chara (My Friend), appeared in a London court to fight a terrorism charge over allegedly displaying a Hezbollah flag. Surrounded by hundreds of supporters, the Kneecap band member said the case was a distraction from Israel’s genocide in Gaza. The Kneecap rapper was released on unconditional bail after appearing in court over terror charges, after he was allegedly seen in concert videos waving a Hezbollah flag.  Outside the Westminster Magistrates’ Court after the hearing, O hAnnaidh told fans to “keep talking about Palestine, keep calling out genocide, that’s the real story,This is just another distraction”.

Kneecap supporters rally outside court

by New Worker correspondent

Hundreds of protesters gathered outside Westminster Magistrates’ Court this week to support a member of an Irish rap group charged under the terrorism laws of displaying a flag of a proscribed Lebanese resistance movement at a gig.
Kneecap founder Mo Chara, the stage name of Liam O’Hanna, appeared in court charged with displaying a Hezbollah flag at a gig at the 02 Forum in north London on 21st November. The Kneecap trio have rejected the charges claiming it is "political policing" and saying that they will "vehemently defend" themselves.  
 Meanwhile, real war criminals get to evade justice with the full backing of the British government, while innocent unarmed men, women, and children are being slaughtered in the name of 'self-defence'. Despite the pandemonium, the large crowd was buoyant and defiant in their support with a range of speakers and music present.