Irish rap trio Kneecap have said they are planning to take legal action against a member of the Canadian government for making statements about the band that they have branded “wholly untrue and deeply malicious”.<\/p>\n
On Friday, the Belfast\/Derry act issued a statement in response to the Canadian government’s decision to ban them from entering Canada for a series of gigs.<\/p>\n
The announcement of the ban was made on Friday by Liberal MP Vince Gasparro, a parliamentary secretary, in a video posted on X. He said the decision followed concerns over the group’s “advocating of political violence” and alleged support for proscribed organisations.<\/p>\n
In his video statement, Mr Gasparro said Kneecap had “engaged in actions and made statements that are contrary to Canadian values and laws” and had “amplified political violence” and “publicly displayed support for terrorist organisations such as Hezbollah and Hamas”.<\/p>\n
On behalf of the Government of Canada I am announcing that on the advice of our officials, we have deemed the group Kneecap ineligible to enter our country.<\/p>\n
Our government will not tolerate the advocating of political violence, terrorism or Anti-Semitism and hate more broadly. pic.twitter.com\/3KOf84G3bZ<\/a><\/p>\n