The verdict on whether Kneecap rapper Mo Chara (real name Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh) committed terrorism offences by allegedly supporting Hezbollah, a proscribed organisation, at a Kentish Town performance last year will finally be delivered on September 26.
While Judge Paul Goldspring announced that he was “conscious and anxious” that many were anticipating a “speedy resolution” to the charges, he ultimately decided to “reserve judgment for a couple of weeks”.
The hearing took place at Westminster Magistrates Court today (August 20), at which a demonstration organised by anti-discrimination charity Love Music Hate Racism was held, featuring performances from Maverick Sabre, Biig Piig, Jehlani Blackman, Nadine Shah and more. Hundreds of attendees gathered outside of the courts in support of Irish-language artist Ó hAnnaidh, chanting “Free Palestine” and “Free Mo Chara” as he walked into the court building wearing a Palestinian keffiyeh scarf.
Addressing the crowd moments after today’s conclusion, Ó hAnnaidh announced: “The real story is about Palestine and [this] is a distraction from the real story. We know unfortunately that this story will end up in the media today, while Israel commits genocide at the same time.”
Earlier this week, Kneecap wrote on Instagram: “Tomorrow Mo Chara is back in Westminster Magistrates Court as the British government’s carnival of distraction continues. Since his last court appearance Israel has murdered another 9,000 Palestinians, mainly children and women… As the British state arms and supports these war crimes they’ll have Mo Chara in court in London tomorrow to try to label him a terrorist… Evil beyond fucking words.”
Today’s verdict arrives amid a wider crackdown on Palestinian activism in the UK. Earlier this week, a Glasgow man was detained for wearing a ‘Plasticine Action’ t-shirt, which allegedly bore a resemblance to the Palestine Action network, a direct action group which was given proscribed status in a House of Commons vote last month. Since this decision, over 700 people have been arrested.
Kneecap, in particular, have become the subject of widespread controversy for their statements in support of Palestine, with TV personality Sharon Osbourne calling for the trailblazing rap group’s US visas to be revoked after they displayed the message “Israel is committing a genocide in Gaza” at their Coachella performance in April of this year.
Still, Kneecap appear to have attracted a greater magnitude of support. In May, Massive Attack, Fontaines DC, Biig Piig, Primal Scream, Pulp, Jeremy Corbyn and French footballer Eric Cantona all signed an open letter which branded the legal action against Ó hAnnaidh a “clear, concerted effort to censor and ultimately deplatform [Kneecap]”.
