Mo Chara from Kneecap walked out of court today after getting unconditional bail for a terror charge that’s caused a lot of debate.
Crowds packed outside Westminster Magistrates’ Court, waving both Irish and Palestinian flags, and shouting “Free Palestine” as Mo Chara, wrapped in a keffiyeh, showed up just to say his name for the record. The real name on his ID? Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh. If things go badly for him, he could be looking at half a year behind bars and a hefty fine, The New York Times says. But the real action starts August 20, when lawyers will start arguing about what really happened.
Prosecutor Michael Bisgrove wanted everyone to know this case isn’t about Mo Chara’s “support for the people of Palestine or his criticism of Israel.” He said, “He is well within his rights to voice his opinions and his solidarity.” What matters, according to Bisgrove, is a video from a London gig in November 2024, where Mo Chara was seen with a Hezbollah flag and heard yelling, “Up Hamas! Up Hezbollah!” That’s a big problem in the UK, where showing public support for those groups is totally illegal.
After the Coachella festival this year, where Kneecap made some loud pro-Palestine and anti-Israel statements, police started paying more attention. That’s when the old video started making the rounds again. Mo Chara’s lawyer, Brenda Campbell, says the charge is too late anyway, because of a six-month rule. “If we are right in relation to that, then this court has no jurisdiction and there ends the case,” she told the judge.
Fans sometimes wonder why artists get into so much trouble just for speaking out.
Kneecap put out a statement, saying, “Let us be unequivocal: we do not, and have never, supported Hamas or Hezbollah. We condemn all attacks on civilians, always. It is never okay.” On social media, they called the whole thing “political policing” and “a carnival of distraction.” The group has always spoken up for Palestine, and lately, with everything happening in Gaza and the West Bank, they’ve only gotten louder.
Naoise “Móglaí Bap” Ó Caireallain and JJ “DJ Próvaí” Ó Dochartaigh were right there with Mo Chara today. Kneecap got a lot more famous last year, after dropping Fine Art and their movie Kneecap. Their support for Palestine has made some people want them banned from festivals, but it’s also made more fans and artists back them up. Even Paul Weller was spotted outside court, standing with the crowd.
