Canada has barred Irish rap trio Kneecap from getting into the nation forward of concert events scheduled for subsequent month, accusing the band of selling hate and supporting militant teams together with Hamas in Gaza, a member of Canada’s authorities stated on Friday.
But the Belfast-based group rejected the accusations as an try to silence them, arguing their assist for Palestinians below Israeli assault in Gaza is being wrongly portrayed as antisemitic hate.
Vince Gasparro, a member of parliament and parliamentary secretary for combatting crime, stated in a video on X that Kneecap members have been deemed ineligible for entry due to actions and statements that violate Canadian legislation.
He stated the group has amplified political violence and has publicly displayed assist for terrorist organizations, together with Iran-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah and the Palestinian group Hamas.
“Advocating for political violence, glorifying terrorist organizations and displaying hate symbols that directly target the Jewish community are not protected forms of expression and will not be tolerated by our government,” Gasparro stated.
Kneecap responded by denying Gasparro’s allegations as “wholly untrue and deeply malicious,” including that no member of the group had ever been convicted of against the law in any nation.
The group additionally threatened to take authorized motion in opposition to him.
“We will be relentless in defending ourselves against baseless accusations to silence our opposition to a genocide being conducted by Israel,” the group stated in an announcement posted on X.
Canada’s immigration ministry declined to remark, citing privateness causes.
The dispute displays rising criticism by artists and actors of Israel’s conflict in Gaza, which in accordance with well being officers has killed greater than 65,000 Palestinians and laid a lot of the enclave to waste. This month, over 1,800 actors, entertainers and producers signed a pledge to not work with Israeli movie establishments.
Israel says its actions in Gaza quantity to self-defense after the October 2023 Hamas assault during which 1,200 individuals have been killed and over 250 taken hostage, Israeli tallies present.
CHARGES IN BRITAIN
Kneecap, who rap about Irish identification and assist the republican explanation for uniting Northern Ireland, a part of the United Kingdom, with the Republic of Ireland, usually show pro-Palestinian messages throughout their reveals.
At the Glastonbury Festival in southwest England in June, frontman Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh – identified by the stage title Mo Chara – accused Israel of committing conflict crimes, fees Israel disputes.
In May, Ó hAnnaidh was charged with a terrorism offence in Britain for allegedly displaying a flag in assist of Hezbollah throughout a efficiency in London in November 2024. He denies the offence, saying the flag was thrown on stage throughout its efficiency.
The band has stated that the cost represents an try to prosecute artists who communicate out, that its members don’t assist Hamas or Hezbollah, and that it condemns “all attacks on civilians, always.”
In August, Kneecap canceled its 15-date U.S. tour scheduled for October, citing the proximity of Ó hAnnaidh’s London court docket listening to.
Kneecap had 4 Canadian concert events scheduled in October, two in Toronto and two in Vancouver, in accordance with its web site.
JEWISH GROUP PRAISES BAN
In a message to its Canadian followers, Kneecap stated its members had already been issued legitimate digital journey authorizations, an entry requirement for visa-exempt foreigners touring to Canada by air.
The group stated it was the goal of a “misinformation” marketing campaign by pro-Israel foyer teams.
Jewish advocacy group B’nai Brith Canada, which had advocated for the ban, praised the federal government and stated its actions ought to function a precedent.
“Groups such as Kneecap cannot be permitted to come to our country and foment discord, incite hate and glorify violence,” B’nai Brith advocacy director Richard Robertson stated in an announcement.
© Thomson Reuters 2025.