“This can be a carnival of distraction”

Kneecap have responded to Mo Chara’s terror offence cost, calling it a “carnival of distraction”.

Yesterday, the Belfast rapper was charged over an alleged incident the place O’Hanna reportedly displayed a Hezbollah flag throughout a Kneecap present final November. Hezbollah is listed as a proscribed terrorist organisation by the UK Authorities.

Now, the rap trio have responded to O’Hanna’s cost on Instagram, saying that they “deny” the offence and can “vehemently defend ourselves”. “That is political policing,” they wrote. “This can be a carnival of distraction. We aren't the story. Genocide is.”

Stating that Gaza currently has 14,000 babies soon to die of starvation, but the “British institution is concentrated on us”, Kneecap added: “They revenue from genocide, they use an ‘anti-terror legislation’ towards us for displaying a flag thrown on stage. A cost not critical sufficient to even warrant their ‘crown courtroom’, as a substitute a courtroom that doesn’t have a jury.”

“What’s the target?”, the group continued. “To limit our skill to journey. To stop us chatting with younger individuals internationally. To silence voices of compassion. To prosecute artists who dare communicate out. As an alternative of defending harmless individuals, or the rules of worldwide legislation they declare to uphold, the highly effective in Britain have abetted slaughter and famine in Gaza, simply as they did in Eire for hundreds of years. Then, like now, they declare justification.”

The trio went on to say that “the IDF items they arm and fly spy airplane missions for are the true terrorists, the entire world can see it”, and concluded: “We stand proudly with the individuals. You stand complicit with the conflict criminals. We're on the suitable facet of historical past. You aren't. We'll combat you in your courtroom. We'll win. Free Palestine.”

The cost is a part of a wider debacle Kneecap have been embroiled on this 12 months, following their overtly political statements in assist of Palestine at Coachella.

The transfer supposedly “blindsided” pageant organisers, and final April, counter-terror police started to evaluate footage from their November O2 Discussion board Kentish City present in London. The footage seems to indicate a member shouting “Up Hamas, up Hezbollah,” together with O’Hannah reportedly flying a Hezbollah flag as nicely. Within the UK, it's a crime to indicate assist for both of those organisations.

Kneecap responded to the information of their present footage being assessed by posting a graphic, studying: “18 Months Of Genocide Footage Not Below Investigation By UK Counter-Terror Police”. The graphic was then captioned with the phrases: “Some info.”

They've additionally since denied supporting both Hamas or Hezbollah, stating they might not incite violence towards any people. Kneecap have additionally claimed that the video footage was taken out of context.

O’Hanna is because of seem at Westminster Magistrates’ Courtroom on Wednesday, June 18.

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMpf5CAofm8[/embed]

For the reason that investigation started, Kneecap have had a number of pageant appearances cancelled, together with scheduled German appearances at both Hurricane Festival and Southside Festival. They have been additionally dropped from the Eden Mission line-up in Cornwall and introduced a substitute present in Plymouth which was subsequently cancelled as nicely.

MPs additionally referred to as to have them faraway from the line-ups of TRNSMT, Glastonbury and extra.

Nonetheless, many musicians have shared their assist for Kneecap and the “freedom of expression”. Tom Morello, Brian Eno, Pulp, Fontaines D.C. and extra signed an open letter to guard freedom of expression. Huge Assault, who themselves have boycotted performing in Israel since 1999, additionally supported the band by saying: “Kneecap aren't the story. Gaza is the story. Genocide is the story”.

In different information, Kneecap have teased an incoming new single referred to as ‘The Recap’.