Prominent Irish rap group Kneecap threatens legal action after being barred from entering Canada

Ottawa has barred the Irish rap group ‘Kneecap’ after members of the group reportedly supported listed terrorist organizations. Allison Hurst reports.

Irish rap group Kneecap says it’s initiating legal action against Toronto MP Vince Gasparro, who said Canada would not allow them to enter the country.

Earlier on Friday, Toronto MP Vince Gasparro revealed the federal government had deemed Kneecap “ineligible” to come to Canada. The trio was scheduled to perform two shows in Toronto, and another two in Vancouver, in October.

“Our government will not tolerate the advocating of political violence, terrorism or Anti-Semitism and hate more broadly,” Gasparro wrote on X Friday.

“The group have amplified political violence and publicly displayed support for terrorist organizations such as Hezbollah and Hamas,” said Gasparro, who serves as the parliamentary secretary to the secretary of state for combatting crime.

Kneecap responded on Instagram with a letter addressed directly to Gasparro, calling his comments “wholly untrue and deeply malicious.”

“We have today instructed our lawyers to initiate legal action against you. We will be relentless in defending ourselves against baseless accusations to silence our opposition to a genocide being committed by Israel,” reads the letter.

“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 Belfast-based group, made up of Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh (Mo Chara), Naoise Ó Cairealláin (Móglaí Bap), and J.J. Ó Dochartaigh (DJ Próvaí), has frequently drawn headlines for its politically charged performances.

Earlier this year, Britian’s Home Office confirmed it was reviewing musical duo Bob Vylan for leading on-stage chants of “death, death to the IDF” during the Glastonbury music festival over the summer, while Kneecap led chants against U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and condemned Israel in front of a huge crowd.

In August, Ó hAnnaidh appeared in a London court on a terrorism-related charge after prosecutors alleged he waved a Hezbollah flag during a concert. Fans surrounded the court in support, while Kneecap rejected the allegation and said the case was part of a wider effort to silence their political messaging.

According to the BBC, the case has been adjourned until Sept. 26.

In its Friday letter, Kneecap wrote, “No member of Kneecap has been convicted of ANY crime in ANY country EVER.”

In a separate statement to fans, the group said the Canadian government had already issued Electronic Travel Authorizations, commonly known as eTAs, to its members.

Canada’s move follows a similar decision from Hungary earlier this summer. Authorities there argued the musicians’ presence in the country would constitute a risk to national security.

Jewish advocacy group B’Nai Brith Canada thanked the federal government for its decision, which it said “must serve as precedent.”