British Prosecutors Lose Appeal in Kneecap Terrorism Case

Liam O’Hanna Charge Dismissed Due to Technical Error

British prosecutors have lost an appeal to reinstate a terrorism charge against Liam O’Hanna, a member of the Irish rap group Kneecap. The charge stemmed from O’Hanna allegedly waving a Hezbollah flag during a concert in London.

London’s High Court rejected the prosecutors' challenge to a lower court’s decision made in September.

This decision means the legal proceedings will not continue, as the lower court had dismissed the case due to a technical error.

The Crown Prosecution Service stated that the High Court had "clarified how the law applies" to such cases. The CPS confirmed it accepted the judgment, indicating an update to their processes would follow.

Details of the Charge

O’Hanna, also known as Mo Chara, was charged in May of last year under the United Kingdom’s 2000 Terrorism Act. The charge was specifically for displaying a Hezbollah flag at a November concert in London.

Kneecap’s members, who perform in both Gaeilge and English, have publicly criticized Israel’s actions in the Gaza Strip. They have characterized the attempted prosecution against O’Hanna as a "British state witch-hunt."

O’Hanna Responds: "Always About Palestine"

O’Hanna commented on the ruling at a news conference in Belfast, stating that the case was "never about me, never about any threat to the public and never about terrorism."

He added, "It was always about Palestine, about what happens if you dare to speak up, about what happens if you can reach large groups of people and expose their hypocrisy, about the lengths Britain will go to cover up Israeli and US war crimes."

He was accompanied by fellow Kneecap bandmates DJ Provai and Moglai Bap. O’Hanna further addressed the UK government, remarking, "Your own High Court ruled against you."

He concluded by criticizing the government's attempt to label him a terrorist while, according to him, "the British government ministers that are arming and assisting a genocide in Gaza, the destruction of Lebanon, and the senseless slaughter of schoolkids in Iran."