UK Court Rejects Bid to Reinstated Terrorism Charge Against Rapper Kneecap

British Prosecutors Lose Appeal in Kneecap Rapper’s Case

A London High Court has rejected an appeal by prosecutors seeking to reinstate a terrorism charge against Liam O’Hanna, a member of Irish rap group Kneecap. The decision means the case will not proceed.

O’Hanna was charged with displaying a Hezbollah flag during a concert in London in November 2024, violating the UK’s 2000 Terrorism Act. He had been accused of violating the law by showing support for the Lebanese Shia militant group.

The Crown Prosecution Service stated that the High Court clarified how the law applies to such cases and accepted the judgment. The service will update its processes accordingly.

O’Hanna was charged in May last year with violating the Terrorism Act due to his actions during a concert. Kneecap’s members have condemned the attempted prosecution as a “British state witch-hunt”.

In a statement, O’Hanna said that the case was never about him or any threat to the public, but rather about Palestine and speaking out against Israeli war crimes. He stated that he was targeted for exposing hypocrisy and criticizing British government actions.

O’Hanna was joined by Kneecap bandmates JJ O Dochartaigh and Naoise O Caireallain at a news conference in Belfast. The High Court had previously ruled against the prosecution, and O’Hanna addressed the UK government, saying that he was falsely labeled as a terrorist while British ministers were accused of arming and assisting genocide in Gaza.

The case will not proceed due to the rejection of the appeal.

Source: Al Jazeera