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Canadian group ‘horrified’ by Ottawa’s ban of Irish rap trio Kneecap
A group of Canadian-based advocates says they are “horrified” by Ottawa’s decision to ban Irish hip-hop trio Kneecap from entering the country — a move that cancels the rap group’s planned shows in Vancouver and Toronto next month.
“I never thought I’d be living in a Canada where our freedom of expression is being attacked like this,” said Deirdre Cahill, a spokesperson for Toronto-based Irish4Palestine.
“It’s a slippery slope towards fascism.”
On Friday, the Liberal government announced it was barring Kneecap from Canada, accusing the Belfast rap group of amplifying political violence and displaying support for terrorist organizations like Hezbollah and Hamas.
“Our government remains steadfast in protecting all Canadians, and in this instance, Jewish Canadians, from anti-semitism and hate more broadly,” said Liberal MP Vince Gasparro in a video posted to social media on behalf of the government.
In a statement on X, Kneecap called the allegations “wholly untrue and deeply malicious,” and believes it’s being “silenced” for its “opposition to a genocide being committed by Israel.”
The band says it has instructed its lawyers to take legal action against the Canadian government.
“When we beat you in court, which we will, we will donate every cent to assist some of the thousands of child amputees in Gaza,” the post read.
Cahill believes Ottawa’s decision goes far beyond music.
“We’re just horrified, because, if the government is banning a music group now — just for their political stance — what’s gonna happen tomorrow, next week, next month, next year?”
Cahill also calls Kneecap, known for anarchic energy and pro-Irish republican symbolism, “mainstream headliners” who use satire and music to push boundaries while reviving Irish culture for a new generation.
“If people are calling them controversial, then they’re doing something right as artists, because art is not meant to make people feel comfortable all the time.”
One member of the band is currently facing terrorism charges in the U.K., according to the Liberal government.
However, the rap group emphasizes none of its members “has been convicted of any crime in any country ever.”
Kneecap was scheduled to play two shows at Vancouver’s Vogue Theatre on Oct. 22 and Oct. 23.
