The terrorism charges against Kneecap‘s Mo Chara (real name Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh) in the UK have been thrown out over a technical issue. The chief magistrate, Paul Goldspring, agreed with the defense that the way charges were brought did not follow proper procedure. Those charges were that Mo Chara allegedly displayed a Hezbollah flag onstage at a Kneecap show in London last November.
Mo Chara made a statement outside the court, and then Kneecap released a longer statement:
A massive thank you to my legal team.
Darragh, Jude, blinne, Brenda, Gareth and to all at Phoenix law.
A special thanks also to my interpreter Susan.
This entire process was never about me, never about any threat to the public and never about “terrorism”, a word used by your government to discredit people you oppress.
It was always about Gaza.
About what happens if you dare to speak up.
As people from Ireland we know oppression, colonialism, famine and genocide.
We have suffered and still suffer under “your empire”.
Your attempts to silence us have failed, because we are right, and you are wrong.
We will not be silent.
We said we would fight you in your court and we would win.
We have.
If anyone on this planet is guilty of terrorism, it is the British state.
Free Palestine!
Tiocfaidh ár lá.
Watch Mo Chara’s statement outside the magistrate court below.
The Prosecution said it was “reviewing the decision of the court carefully” and that the decision could be appealed.
When the terrorism charges were brought against Mo Chara earlier this year, the band said, “This is political policing. This is a carnival of distraction. We are not the story. Genocide is.”
It’s been a tumultuous year for Kneecap who canceled their US fall tour, amid the controversy abroad and here, and were then banned by Canada. They’ll be livestreaming a show for their North American fans in October.