The Irish hip-hop trio Kneecap has been banned from entering Canada over what the federal government says is their “open endorsement of terrorist organizations.”<\/p>\n
“Kneecap has engaged in actions and have made statements that are contrary to Canadian values and laws that have caused deep alarm to our government,” Vince Gasparro, parliamentary secretary for combating crime, said in a video posted on social media.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
“The group have amplified political violence and publicly displayed support for terrorist organizations such as Hezbollah and Hamas,” he said.\u00a0The band has denied supporting the militant groups.<\/p>\n
In announcing the group’s ineligibility, Gasparro explained that his government would not allow Canada to become a platform for extremism or political violence\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kneecap had been scheduled to perform in Toronto and Vancouver next month.\u00a0Last month, the group announced it was cancelling 15 shows in the U.S.<\/p>\n
Belfast trio known for anarchic energy<\/p>\n
The Belfast trio is known for its anarchic energy, satirical lyrics and use of symbolism associated with the Irish republican movement, which seeks to unite\u00a0Northern Ireland\u00a0\u2014 currently part of the U.K. \u2014 with the\u00a0Republic of Ireland.<\/p>\n
The group has faced criticism<\/a> for lyrics laden with expletives and drug references, and for political statements seeming to glorify militant groups.<\/p>\n One member of the group, Liam\u00a0\u00d3g \u00d3\u00a0Hannaidh, who performs under the name Mo Chara,\u00a0is facing terrorism charges in the U.K., after allegedly waving a Hezbollah flag on stage at a November 2024 gig in London. He returns to court Sept. 26.<\/p>\n The ban comes on the same day\u00a0Justice Minister Sean Fraser tabled\u00a0new legislation that promises to create\u00a0four\u00a0Criminal Code offences, including one that\u00a0would make\u00a0it a crime to intentionally promote hatred against identifiable groups in public using certain hate- or terrorism-related symbols.<\/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. \u2014@vgasparro<\/a><\/p>\n Jewish groups have been asking Ottawa to ban the group since June, along with the English punk-rap duo Bob Vylan, over comments they argue incite antisemitism. Gasparro’s video\u00a0did not mention Bob Vylan.<\/p>\n B’nai Brith Canada, a Jewish advocacy group, welcomed the news Friday, saying the government’s decision should set a precedent.\u00a0<\/p>\n “Kneecap …\u00a0has repeatedly glorified violence and extremism \u2014 from waving a Hezbollah flag in London to inciting hostile chants at major festivals,” the organization said in a press release.\u00a0“Their incitement is not just a danger to the Jewish community, it is a danger to Canadian values and to all Canadians.”<\/p>\n In his video message,\u00a0Gasparro\u00a0said the decision to ban Kneecap was taken specifically to protect Canada’s Jewish community.\u00a0<\/p>\n Kneecap pushes back<\/p>\n Kneecap has accused its critics of trying to silence them because of their support for the Palestinian cause throughout Israel’s\u00a0war in Gaza. They have said they don’t support Hezbollah and Hamas, nor do they condone violence.<\/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