Hungary bans Irish rap group Kneecap over pro-Palestinian stance
Zoltán Kovács, spokesperson for the Hungarian government, confirmed the decision in a post on X. He stated, "The Government of Hungary moved to prevent the Kneecap band from entering the country and performing in Sziget... citing antisemitic hate speech and public praise for Hamas and Hezbollah."
Kneecap, known for their Irish-language hip-hop and politically charged lyrics, has consistently expressed pro-Palestinian views during their performances.
In recent months, the group has generated controversy at various venues. During their appearance at the Glastonbury Festival in the United Kingdom, for instance, band member Mo Chara reportedly accused "Israel" of committing war crimes.
The ban comes as the Sziget Festival, one of Europe's largest music festivals, is underway in Budapest. Festival organizers have not yet released a statement regarding the Hungarian government's decision.
Kneecap's representatives have not yet publicly responded to the Hungarian government's specific accusations regarding antisemitism or praise for Hamas and Hezbollah. However, the group has previously defended their pro-Palestinian stance as an act of solidarity, often drawing parallels between the Palestinian experience and Irish history.
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