A London court has dismissed a terror charge against Irish rapper Mo Chara, whose real name is Liam Og O hAnnaidh, following his display of a Hezbollah flag during a concert in November 2024. The ruling came over half a year after the fact. Most recently, it ruled that a technical error invalidated the charge.
Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring ruled that the charge was not properly before the court’s jurisdiction. “The charge is unlawful and null and this court has no jurisdiction to try the charge,” he declared during the hearing. This ruling is a big win for Mo Chara. On stage as a member of the Irish rap trio Kneecap, he’s become famous for his searing politically charged lyrics and unapologetic support for the Palestinian cause.
When the prosecution charged Mo Chara, they did so using his Anglicised name, Liam O’Hanna. The court found that the matter should have been addressed in a magistrates’ court. The dropping of the charge adds a layer of uncertainty when it comes to how these types of cases will be charged in the future. We welcome the commitment of the Metropolitan Police to work closely with the Crown Prosecution Service. Side by side, they’ll jointly face the question of how this ruling will shape future prosecutions.
Kneecap is under attack for supposedly romanticizing terrorism. Their clear and vocal advocacy for Palestinians amidst the current crisis in Gaza has led to calls for censorship. Since Israel launched its military operations in October 2023, more than 65,000 people have reportedly died, with vast portions of Gaza reduced to rubble. Now, the band has announced that they have canceled all their upcoming shows in Germany and Austria. Besides that, they are prohibited from entering the territory of Hungary and Canada.
In a statement after the ruling, Mo Chara, one of the founders of SpeakUp, highlighted the need for free speech on political matters.
“It was always about Gaza, about what happens if you dare to speak up … Your attempts to silence us have failed, because we’re right and you’re wrong,” – Mo Chara.
Northern Ireland’s First Minister, Michelle O’Neill, welcomed the decision. She argued that the charges brought against Mo Chara were intended to silence voices critical of Israeli military operations in Gaza.
“These charges were part of a calculated attempt to silence those who stand up and speak out against the Israeli genocide in Gaza,” – Michelle O’Neill.
As this charge against Mo Chara is dropped, it brings current tensions regarding free speech to the forefront. These matters pose critical issues regarding the chilling effects of litigation on political dissent and artistic expression.
