Cliff Notes – Kneecap respond after being banned from entire country for amplifying political violence
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Kneecap, an Irish rap trio, has been denied entry into Canada due to allegations of glorifying terrorist organisations, specifically Hezbollah and Hamas, which the Canadian government deems contrary to its values and laws.
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The group plans to take legal action against the Canadian government, asserting that they have never been convicted of any crime and accusing officials of misrepresenting their stance on political issues.
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Despite the ban, Kneecap has expressed their commitment to continue their message of solidarity and love, announcing upcoming UK tour dates in November.
Kneecap respond after being banned from entire country for ‘amplifying political violence’
Kneecap will not be allowed entry into Canada ahead of October shows (Picture: Getty)
Kneecap have hit back after getting banned from entering Canada over allegedly ‘glorifying terrorist organisations’.
The Irish rap trio – comprised of Naoise O Caireallain, Liam Og O hAnnaidh and JJ O’Dochartaigh – rose to prominence this year for their pro-Palestine stance.
O hAnnaidh – also known by his stage name Mo Chara – appeared in court last month on an alleged terror offence after being accused of displaying a flag in support of Hezbollah, a proscribed terror organisation in the UK.
The music group were planning to perform a set of shows in Canada in October including two in Toronto and two in Vancouver.
Now, in a video made by Canada’s parliamentary secretary Vince Gasparro, Kneecap has been banned from the country after ‘engaging in actions and making statements that are contrary to Canadian values and laws’ which have ’caused deep alarm to our government’.
The statement continued: ‘The group have amplified political violence and publicly displayed support for terrorist organisations such as Hezbollah and Hamas.
Vince Gasparro shared a statement on social media denying their entry (Picture: Toronto Star via Getty Images)
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.Our government will not tolerate the advocating of political violence, terrorism or Anti-Semitism and hate more broadly. pic.twitter.com/3KOf84G3bZ
— Vince Gasparro (@vgasparro) September 19, 2025
‘These are not expressions of art or legitimate political critique, they are dangerous endorsements of violence and hate. Notably, one member of the band is currently facing terrorism related charges in the United Kingdom.’
Gasparro said ’advocating for political violence, glorifying terrorist organisations and displaying hate symbols that directly target the Jewish community’ are not protected forms of expression and ‘will not be tolerated’.
The trio responded to Gasparro in a post on Instagram, calling the comments ‘wholly untrue and deeply malicious’.
It continued: ‘No member of Kneecap has been convicted of ANY crime in ANY country EVER.
Kneecap has shared they will launch legal action (Picture: Getty)
‘Whilst you outrageously try to claim we are antisemitic the Times newspaper in England today wrote of our headline show in London last night as “emphatically anti-sectarian”.’
They then announced their plan to take legal action and ‘beat’ them in court, promising to send any money to support child amputees in Gaza.
The group also revealed to Canadian fans they had provided additional information requested by the immigration authorities.
‘It is our view that when they realised there was no legal basis on which to stop us that they today, via Vince Gasparro, sought to maliciously misrepresent Kneecap.
The Irish rap trio will tour around the UK in November (Picture: Getty)
‘We have played in Canada many times with zero issues and a message of solidarity and love. We are sorry we cannot be with you next month but we will not be silenced and will always oppose genocide,’ they concluded.
Over the spring, there were calls for the group’s US visas to be revoked following their provocative Coachella set.
Ultimately, they were forced to cancel their tour due to a scheduled court appearance in London in August.
Most recently, they publicly showed support for the band the Mary Wallopers, who claimed their set at Victorious Festival in Portsmouth had been cut short after they unveiled a Palestine flag.
‘Speak up against genocide in England and you’re treated like a criminal. Up the Mary Wallopers. Free Palestine,’ they wrote on X at the time.
In November, Kneecap are travelling across the UK with gigs in Manchester, Birmingham, Sheffield, Newcastle and Glasgow.
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