Latest news with #Glastonburyfestival
Scotsman
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Scotsman
Who's the Vylan of the piece?
In the wake of the Bob Vylan controversy, Douglas McConnell takes a look at Glastonbury, free speech and Scots law Sign up to our Scotsman Money newsletter, covering all you need to know to help manage your money. Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The 2025 Glastonbury Festival made headlines far beyond the music world when punk-rap duo Bob Vylan led the crowd in chants of 'Death to the IDF'. Broadcast live before being removed by the BBC, the incident prompted condemnation from political leaders and ignited a criminal investigation in England. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The controversy reopened complex questions about hate speech, protest and legal thresholds, especially in light of Scotland's newly enforced hate crime legislation. My colleague, David Duncan, wrote earlier this year about how Scotland's new hate crime laws apply to individuals. But this is something different – a public performance, broadcast to thousands, where the audience isn't just incidental, it's central. Bobby Vylan of the Bob Vylan duo at this year's Glastonbury festival (Picture:) Although the chant occurred in England, it provides a useful lens through which to examine how Scotland's Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021, in force since April 2024, might address such speech. The Scottish legislation consolidates and updates previous hate crime statutes. It criminalises conduct that is: Threatening or abusive; and Intended to stir up hatred against groups defined by protected characteristics, including race, religion, sexual orientation, disability, transgender identity, age, and variations in sex characteristics. It also introduces specific 'stirring up hatred' offences, which require not only abusive or threatening language but clear intent to incite hatred. Notably, the Act includes built-in protections for freedom of expression, aiming to safeguard genuine political discourse and critical commentary that doesn't cross into incitement. Bob Vylan's chant against the IDF (Israel Defence Forces) presents a legal grey area. The IDF is a state military body, not itself a protected group. But if a court interpreted the chant as a stand-in for hostility toward Jewish people, it could potentially fall within the law's scope under religious or racial hatred provisions. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad In Scotland, the key prosecutorial questions would be: Did the performer intend to stir up hatred, not just express opposition to Israeli military policy? Was the chant directed at a protected group, or clearly framed as political dissent? How would a reasonable observer interpret its tone, content and impact? The Bob Vylan controversy reopened complex questions about hate speech, says Douglas McConnell The performers could argue the chant was rooted in protest against state violence, not hostility toward any religion or ethnicity. This would engage the Act's freedom of expression defence, which allows controversial views so long as they don't provoke hatred. While English law criminalises stirring up racial or religious hatred under the Public Order Act 1986, its focus is whether the speech is likely to stir up hatred, not whether it was intended. Scotland's Act, though broader in scope, has a higher evidentiary threshold – proof of intent. Nonetheless, the Scottish law's clarity and breadth could arguably make prosecution more viable, depending how courts interpret the chant's intent and implied meaning. Scotland's newer framework was designed to tackle modern hate expressions, including online speech and performance. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad This controversy also taps into Scotland's wider cultural debates, and boundaries between 'cancel culture,' accountability, and censorship. Some view legal mechanisms as protections for vulnerable groups, while others fear the potential chilling effects on protest and dissent. Had the Glastonbury performance taken place in Scotland, prosecution under the 2021 Hate Crime Act would be possible, but far from guaranteed. Intent, interpretation and context would all be crucial. The law is designed to protect against dangerous hate speech while safeguarding freedom of expression, but navigating that line requires careful legal and cultural judgment. In the court of public opinion, the chant has already been met with disapproval. In a Scottish court, the outcome would be far more nuanced.
Arab News
18-07-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
UK police drop Kneecap probe after Glastonbury performance
LONDON: UK police said on Friday they had dropped a criminal investigation into on-stage comments by Irish rappers Kneecap at the Glastonbury festival. Avon and Somerset Police in southwest England said last month it had launched an enquiry after reviewing 'video footage and audio' of both Kneecap and London-based duo Bob Vylan, whose frontman led a chant against the Israeli army at the festival. The Kneecap probe was focused on remarks made about a forthcoming court case in which one band member Liam O'Hanna, known by his stage name Mo Chara, is charged with a 'terror' offense over alleged support for banned organizations Hamas and Hezbollah. But in an update the force said it would take no further action against Kneecap, whose members had been informed of the decision. 'Detectives sought advice from the Crown Prosecution Service during their enquiries and after that advice, we have made the decision to take no further action on the grounds there is insufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction for any offense,' it said. Inquiries into the separate allegations against Bob Vylan, however, would continue, it added. Chara appeared in court in June accused of having displayed a Hezbollah flag while saying 'Up Hamas, Up Hezbollah' at a London concert last year. The Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah and the Palestinian militants Hamas are banned in the UK, where it is an offense to express support for them. Kneecap deny the terrorism charge and say the video featuring the Hezbollah flag has been taken out of context.
Irish Daily Mirror
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Mirror
Kneecap cleared as police drop Glastonbury investigation over lack of evidence
A criminal investigation into the performance of Belfast rap trio Kneecap at Glastonbury Festival has been dropped by police. Avon and Somerset Police said it will be taking 'no further action' on the grounds that there is 'insufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction for any offence'. The investigation was announced in June after officers reviewed video footage and audio recordings from the sets of Kneecap and punk duo Bob Vylan at the Somerset festival. On Friday, the group, comprised of Liam Og O hAnnaidh, Naoise O Caireallain, and JJ O Dochartaigh, posted a screenshot to social media from an email that appeared to be from a senior investigating officer. In the caption of their post, Kneecap said: 'One element of the political policing intimidation attempt is over. We played a historic set at Glastonbury. Whole area closed an hour before due to crowds. A celebration of love and solidarity. A sea of good people at the world's most famous festival.' Avon and Somerset Police said: 'An investigation has been carried out into comments about a forthcoming court case made during Kneecap's performance at Glastonbury Festival on Saturday 28 June. Festival goers watch Kneecap perform on the West Holts stage during day four of Glastonbury festival 2025 at Worthy Farm, Pilton on June 28, 2025 (Image: WireImage) 'Detectives sought advice from the Crown Prosecution Service during their enquiries and after that advice, we have made the decision to take no further action on the grounds there is insufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction for any offence.' Kneecap have been in the headlines after O hAnnaidh, who performs under the name Mo Chara, was charged with a terror offence. In reference to his bandmate's upcoming court date, O Caireallain, who performs under the name Moglai Bap, told Glastonbury they would 'start a riot outside the courts', before clarifying: 'No riots, just love and support, and support for Palestine.' Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.
Gulf Today
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Gulf Today
UK police probe Bob Vylan's festival chants against Israeli military
British police launched a criminal investigation Monday into a televised performance at the Glastonbury Festival by rap punk duo Bob Vylan, who drew intense criticism after they led crowds of music fans in chanting "death' to the Israeli military. Meanwhile. the U.S. State Department said it has revoked the U.S. visas for Bob Vylan, who were set to go on tour in the United States later this year, after their "hateful tirade at Glastonbury.' Rapper Bobby Vylan - who until the weekend was relatively little known - led crowds in chants of "free, free Palestine' and "death, death to the IDF" - the Israel Defense Forces - on Saturday at Britain's biggest summer music festival. The BBC said it regretted livestreaming the performance. "The antisemitic sentiments expressed by Bob Vylan were utterly unacceptable and have no place on our airwaves,' the broadcaster said, adding that it "respects freedom of expression but stands firmly against incitement to violence.' British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and U.K. politicians condemned the chants, saying there was no excuse for such "appalling hate speech.' Bobby Vylan of British duo Bob Vylan crowd surfing while performing on the West Holts Stage on the fourth day of the Glastonbury festival at Worthy Farm in the village of Pilton in Somerset, south-west England. AFP Avon and Somerset Police said Bob Vylan's performance, along with that by Irish-language band Kneecap, were now subject to a criminal investigation and have been "recorded as a public order incident.' Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza has inflamed tensions around the world, triggering pro-Palestinian protests in many capitals and on college campuses. Israel and some supporters have described the protests as antisemitic, while critics say Israel uses such descriptions to silence opponents. Ofcom, the UK's broadcasting regulator, said it was "very concerned' about the BBC livestream and said the broadcaster "clearly has questions to answer.' The BBC said earlier in its defense that it had issued a warning on screen about "very strong and discriminatory language' during its livestream of Bob Vylan's act. US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau said the visas for Bob Vylan's two members - who both use stage names for privacy reasons - have been revoked. "Foreigners who glorify violence and hatred are not welcome visitors to our country,' Landau said in a social media post Monday. Starmer said the BBC must explain "how these scenes came to be broadcast.' Bob Vylan perform on the West Holts Stage, during the Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm. AP Bob Vylan, which formed in 2017, have released four albums mixing punk, grime and other styles with lyrics that often address issues including racism, masculinity and politics. In a statement posted on social media, singer Bobby Vylan said he was inundated with messages of both support and hatred. "Teaching our children to speak up for the change they want and need is the only way that we make this world a better place,' he wrote. Bob Vylan performed on Saturday afternoon just before Kneecap, another band that has drawn controversy over its pro-Palestinian stance. Kneecap led a huge crowd in chants of "Free Palestine' at the festival. They also aimed an expletive-laden chant at Starmer, who has said he didn't think it was "appropriate' for Kneecap to play Glastonbury after one of its members was charged under the Terrorism Act. Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, who performs under the stage name Mo Chara, was charged with supporting a proscribed organization for allegedly waving a Hezbollah flag at a concert in London last year. On Saturday a member of the group suggested fans "start a riot' outside his bandmate's upcoming court appearance - though he then said "No riots, just love and support, and support for Palestine.' The BBC had already taken a decision not to broadcast Kneecap's Glastonbury performance live, though it did make available an unedited version of the set to its festival highlights page on BBC iPlayer service. The Israeli Embassy to the UK said over the weekend it was "deeply disturbed by the inflammatory and hateful rhetoric expressed on stage at the Glastonbury Festival.' The acts were among among 4,000 that performed in front of some 200,000 music fans this year at the festival in southwest England. Hip hop duo Bob Vylan attend the 25th MOBO Awards in London, Britain November 30, 2022. File/Reuters Israel has faced heavy international criticism for its war conduct in Gaza. In May, the U.K., France and Canada issued a sharply worded statement calling for Israel to stop its "egregious' military actions in Gaza and criticizing Israel's actions in the occupied West Bank. More than 6,000 people have been killed and more than 20,000 injured in Gaza since Israel ended a ceasefire in March. Since the war began in October 2023 with a Hamas attack on Israel, Israeli attacks have killed more than 56,000 people and injured 132,000, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. It doesn't distinguish between civilians and combatants, but has said that women and children make up more than half the dead. Israel says it only targets militants and blames civilian deaths on Hamas, accusing the militants of hiding among civilians, because they operate in populated areas. Associated Press
Time Out
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
Glastonbury 2025 packing list: what you need to bring to this year's festival
As magical, and fun and exciting as Glastonbury is, it can be pretty overwhelming. And navigating five days in a field with 200,000 strangers is even harder when you've packed the wrong shoes and didn't bring a waterproof coat. If you're heading to the festival this year, you're probably thinking about what you are going to bring with you. And we're not just talking about booze and a jumbo pack of Lidl brioche. We've already told you what not to bring to Glastonbury festival (more on that below). But here's a comprehensive checklist of everything you need to take to Worthy Farm this year. Be warned: pack light. The walk from the entrance to the tents is harder than D of E. What you need to bring to Glastonbury 2025 Essentials Ticket ID Car Park Ticket Bank cards Cash Phone and portable charger Reusable water bottle Comfortable shoes (leave the cowboy boots at home) Wellies or walking boots Waterproof jacket / poncho Toilet roll Hand sanitiser Sun cream and after sun Earplugs and eye mask Day bag (small backpack, tote or cross-body bag) Camping gear Tent Sleeping bag & extra blanket Roll mat / air bed and pump Pillow Camping chair Bin bags Duct tape Torch / head-torch Refillable water carrier Re-usable cups Optional: camping stove, gas and cooking equipment (although bear in mind the walk to the tents is long, and carrying heavy items is a challenge) Reusable cutlery Toiletries, hygiene and first aid Hand sanitiser Wet wipes (these are essential for five days with no showers, although make sure they are biodegradable) Dry shampoo Toothbrush and toothpaste Face wash Moisturiser Shower gel or soap Deodorant / body spray Towel Razor Period products Toilet roll Contact lenses, solution and glasses Glasses wipes Sun cream and after sun Makeup Makeup remover Hairbrush, clips and bands Non-glass mirror Painkillers Rehydration salts Berocca or multivitamins Antihistamines Personal medication Plasters Clothing Waterproof jacket Warm hoodie or fleece Thermal base layers Comfortable trainers or walking shoes Wellies or waterproof boots Flip-flops or crocs Underwear and socks Mix and match outfits Sunhat and/or beanie Swimsuit PJs or warm loungewear Food and drink Alcohol (permitted to bring as much as you can carry, but no glass bottles) Breakfast (brioche or croissants) Cereal bars Fruit Crisps Nuts Instant noodles (ask for hot water at food stands) Mixers Tinned foods What not to bring to Glastonbury 2025 Find the full list of banned items at Glastonbury festival here.
