LONDON (AP) — A London court docket on Friday threw out a terror-related cost towards a member of the controversial Irish-language hip-hop band Kneecap, basing its choice on a technical error in the way in which the cost was introduced ahead.
Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, who can also be referred to by his anglicized title Liam O’Hanna and performs underneath the title Mo Chara, had been charged after waving a flag of the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, which is banned in Britain as a terrorist group, throughout a London live performance final yr.
Chief Justice of the Peace Paul Goldspring sitting at Woolwich Crown Court docket mentioned the case needs to be thrown out, agreeing with O’Hanna’s attorneys that there was an error in the way in which the rapper was charged.
“These proceedings were instituted unlawfully and are null,” he mentioned.
The three-member Kneecap, which hails from Belfast, Northern Eire, has confronted criticism for political statements seeming to glorify militant teams together with Hamas and Hezbollah. Canada and Hungary have beforehand banned the group.
Kneecap has accused critics of making an attempt to silence the band due to its assist for the Palestinian trigger all through the struggle in Gaza. The band says it would not assist Hezbollah and Hamas, nor condone violence.
O’Hanna, 27, had claimed the prosecution was a politically motivated effort to silence the band’s assist for Palestinians.
“We will not be silent,” the rapper informed supporters outdoors the court docket after the fees towards him had been thrown out.
Northern Eire’s First Minister Michelle O’Neill welcomed the transfer, saying the fees had been a part of “a calculated attempt to silence those who stand up and speak out against the Israeli genocide in Gaza.”
“Kneecap have used their platform on stages across the world to expose this genocide, and it is the responsibility of all of us to continue speaking out and standing against injustice in Palestine,” she added.
The Crown Prosecution Service mentioned it was “reviewing the decision of the court carefully” and identified that it may be appealed.
London’s Metropolitan Police mentioned it was working with the prosecutors to “understand the potential implications of this ruling for us and how that might impact on the processing of such cases in the future.”
