Latest news with #Rock-en-Seine
Sunday World
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Sunday World
French town drops music festival funding over Kneecap booking
The Irish rap trio's presence on the line-up has seen funding cut by the local authorities. Kneecap have been extremely vocal about the Israel-Gaza conflict The booking of Kneecap for the Rock-en-Seine music festival has led to the local municipal authority withdrawing their funding for the event. The annual festival takes place between August 21 and August 24 in the Parisian suburb of Saint-Cloud, located to the west of the French capital. Their presence on the line-up has resulted in the Saint-Cloud city hall confirming that they have dropped their €40,000 subsidy that had been ear-marked for the event organisers. In a statement released on Wednesday, the authorities confirmed that the figure had been agreed but the decision was made to cut their funding following the final line-up of the festival being confirmed earlier this month. The local authority said it respected the festival's programming freedom and did not 'enter into any negotiations with a view to influencing the programming'. Kneecap have been extremely vocal about the Israel-Gaza conflict Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 17th The statement added: 'On the other hand it does not finance political action, nor demands, and even less calls to violence, such as calls to kill lawmakers, whatever their nationality.' The Belfast trio have seen a number of their recent gigs cancelled following backlash over the group's comments about Israel's destruction of Gaza. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer was among those to criticise the rappers' appearance at Glastonbury late last month. A criminal investigation was launched by British police following Kneecap's performance at the English festival, with local police stating there is 'no place in society for hate'. The group led the packed crowed in chants of 'f**k Keir Starmer' with the BBC opting not to live stream the performance. Kneecap member Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh was previously charged with a terrorism offence for allegedly displaying the flag of Hezbollah at a gig in London last November. The rapper, who performs under the name Mo Chara, appeared before a court in London over the charge, which he denies. The Kneecap star could make legal history if he opts to use an Irish language interpreter at his next appearance before the British court in August. Ó hAnnaidh has indicated he'll ask for a translator at his next court appearance, and Committee on the Administration of Justice (CAJ) director Daniel Holder says it could make legal history. Irish is recognised in UK law as a minority language, and the rapper could argue he wants to use Irish as his right to freedom of expression without discrimination. 'If you have a case where someone is charged with a criminal offence and they do not understand English it is part of their right to a fair trial that they have an interpreter,' the legal expert recently told Sunday World.
Irish Examiner
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
French town withdraws Rock-en-Seine music festival funding over Kneecap booking
The municipal authority for the Paris suburb of Saint-Cloud, which hosts the annual Rock-en-Seine music festival, has decided to withdraw a €40,000 subsidy for the event due to its booking of Irish rap band Kneecap, it said on Thursday. The Belfast-based Kneecap has drawn criticism because it has displayed pro-Palestine messages during gigs. It is scheduled to play on the final day of the Rock-en-Seine festival, which takes place from August 21 to August 24. In a statement late on Wednesday, the Saint-Cloud city hall said the money had been agreed before the final line-up of the festival was announced and that it had decided to withdraw the funding on July 3. The Saint-Cloud city said it respects the festival's programming freedom, and had not sought "to enter into any negotiations with a view to influencing the programming". "On the other hand it does not finance political action, nor demands, and even less calls to violence, such as calls to kill lawmakers, whatever their nationality," the statement said. Rock-en-Seine could not be immediately reached for comment. Kneecap member Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, who is known by his stage name Mo Chara, was charged in May with a terrorism offence for allegedly displaying a flag of Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed militant group that is proscribed as a terrorist organisation in Britain. He denies the offence and the band says its members do not support Hamas or Hezbollah. Read More Dublin Airport wins approval to increase night-time flights despite local backlash
RTÉ News
5 days ago
- Politics
- RTÉ News
French town withdraws Rock-En-Seine music festival funding over Kneecap booking
The municipal authority for the Paris suburb of Saint-Cloud, which hosts the annual Rock-en-Seine music festival, has decided to withdraw a €40,000 subsidy for the event due to its booking of Irish rap trio Kneecap, it said on Thursday. The Belfast-based Kneecap, which raps in Irish and English, has drawn criticism because it has displayed pro-Palestine messages during gigs. It is scheduled to play on the final day of the Rock-en-Seine festival, which takes place from 21 - 24 August. In a statement late on Wednesday, the Saint-Cloud city hall said the money had been agreed before the final line-up of the festival was announced and that it had decided to withdraw the funding on 3 July. The Saint-Cloud city said it respects the festival's programming freedom, and had not sought "to enter into any negotiations with a view to influencing the programming". "On the other hand it does not finance political action, nor demands, and even less calls to violence, such as calls to kill lawmakers, whatever their nationality," the statement said. Rock-en-Seine could not be immediately reached for comment. Kneecap member Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, who is known by his stage name Mo Chara, was charged in May with a terrorism offence for allegedly displaying a flag of Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed militant group that is proscribed as a terrorist organisation in Britain. He denies the offence and the band says its members do not support Hamas or Hezbollah.
Straits Times
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
French town withdraws Rock-En-Seine music festival funding over Kneecap booking
PARIS - The municipal authority for the Paris suburb of Saint-Cloud, which hosts the annual Rock-en-Seine music festival, has decided to withdraw a 40,000 euro ($46,000) subsidy for the event due to its booking of Irish rap band Kneecap, it said on Thursday. The Belfast-based Kneecap, which raps in Irish and English, has drawn criticism because it has displayed pro-Palestine messages during gigs. It is scheduled to play on the final day of the Rock-en-Seine festival, which takes place from August 21 to August 24. In a statement late on Wednesday, the Saint-Cloud city hall said the money had been agreed before the final line-up of the festival was announced and that it had decided to withdraw the funding on July 3. The Saint-Cloud city said it respects the festival's programming freedom, and had not sought "to enter into any negotiations with a view to influencing the programming". "On the other hand it does not finance political action, nor demands, and even less calls to violence, such as calls to kill lawmakers, whatever their nationality," the statement said. Rock-en-Seine could not be immediately reached for comment. Kneecap member Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, who is known by his stage name Mo Chara, was charged in May with a terrorism offence for allegedly displaying a flag of Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed militant group that is proscribed as a terrorist organisation in Britain. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Fatal abuse of Myanmar maid in Bishan: Traffic Police officer sentenced to 10 years' jail Singapore Man charged over manufacturing DIY Kpods at Yishun home; first such case in Singapore Singapore HSA launches anti-vaping checks near 5 institutes of higher learning Business 5 things to know about Kuok Hui Kwong, tycoon Robert Kuok's daughter and Shangri-La Asia head honcho Singapore Jail for elderly man for using knife to slash neighbour, who later died of heart disease Singapore Maximum $7,000 fine for caterer involved in ByteDance food poisoning case World UK to lower voting age to 16 in landmark electoral reform Opinion Grab tried to disrupt taxis. It now wants to save them He denies the offence and the band says its members do not support Hamas or Hezbollah. REUTERS
