Latest news with #ZoltánKovács
Roya News
3 days ago
- Politics
- Roya News
Hungary bans Irish rap group Kneecap over pro-Palestinian stance
Hungarian authorities have blocked the Irish rap group Kneecap from entering the country to perform at the Sziget Festival, accusing the Belfast-based trio of using antisemitic hate speech and publicly praising the Palestinian group Hamas, a government spokesperson announced on Thursday. 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.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Hungary bans 'national security threat' Kneecap from performing at Sziget festival
The backlash over freedom of speech and controversial Irish rappers Kneecap has intensified following Hungary's decision to ban the group from taking part in the Sziget festival. Government spokesperson Zoltán Kovács explained in a post on the X platform that the the decision to ban Kneecap from entering the country and from participating in the Sziget Festival, was due to statements deemed anti-Semitic and glorifying Hamas and Hezbollah. He later added that the immigration authorities had issued a formal decision to ban the band members from entering Hungary for three years, considering their presence a "serious threat to national security".The government had previously asked festival organisers to exclude the band from the event, which is one of Europe's biggest music festivals and attracts hundreds of thousands of music lovers to an island on the Danube every summer. Pro-Palestinian protests The Belfast-based band is known for its support of the Palestinian cause, which it openly expresses at its concerts. One of its most controversial recent appearances came at Britain's Glastonbury Festival, when lead singer Liam O'Hannah, better known by his stage name Mo Chara, accused Israel of committing war crimes. Last May, Mo Chara was charged with a terrorism-related offence in the UK for displaying a pro-Hezbollah flag. The artist denied the charge, and in previous statements, he emphasised that the band does not support either Hamas or Hezbollah, and that it "condemns all attacks on civilians, at all times". The band is by no means alone in expressing vocal support for the Palestinian cause and the enjoys enormous support from other dozens of artists and cultural figures who've signed petitions and are organising campaigns against what they deem to be censorship. Organisers of the Sziget festival say they've not had official notification of the government's decision, and reject pressure to cancel the 11 August performance. "Our festival remains true to what we have achieved over the past 30 years. There is no place for hate, incitement, prejudice or any form of racism or anti-Semitism" said Sziget in a statement. This year's edition features some of the biggest names in music, including Post Malone, Shawn Mendes and Charli XCX.
Euronews
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Euronews
Irish rap band Kneecap banned from Hungary's Sziget festival
The backlash over freedom of speech and controversial Irish rappers Kneecap has intensified following Hungary's decision to ban the group from taking part in the Sziget festival. Government spokesperson Zoltán Kovács explained in a post on the X platform that the the decision to ban Kneecap from entering the country and from participating in the Sziget Festival, was due to statements deemed anti-Semitic and glorifying Hamas and Hezbollah. He later added that the immigration authorities had issued a formal decision to ban the band members from entering Hungary for three years, considering their presence a "serious threat to national security". The government had previously asked festival organisers to exclude the band from the event, which is one of Europe's biggest music festivals and attracts hundreds of thousands of music lovers to an island on the Danube every summer. Pro-Palestinian protests The Belfast-based band is known for its support of the Palestinian cause, which it openly expresses at its concerts. One of its most controversial recent appearances came at Britain's Glastonbury Festival, when lead singer Liam O'Hannah, better known by his stage name Mo Chara, accused Israel of committing war crimes. Last May, Mo Chara was charged with a terrorism-related offence in the UK for displaying a pro-Hezbollah flag. The artist denied the charge, and in previous statements, he emphasised that the band does not support either Hamas or Hezbollah, and that it "condemns all attacks on civilians, at all times". The band is by no means alone in expressing vocal support for the Palestinian cause and the enjoys enormous support from other dozens of artists and cultural figures who've signed petitions and are organising campaigns against what they deem to be censorship. Organisers of the Sziget festival say they've not had official notification of the government's decision, and reject pressure to cancel the 11 August performance. "Our festival remains true to what we have achieved over the past 30 years. There is no place for hate, incitement, prejudice or any form of racism or anti-Semitism" said Sziget in a statement. This year's edition features some of the biggest names in music, including Post Malone, Shawn Mendes and Charli XCX.
The Independent
15-05-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Nato ally attacks Starmer's ‘coalition of the willing' for Ukraine
A senior minister from one of the UK's Nato allies has publicly voiced opposition to efforts by Sir Keir Starmer's 'coalition of the willing' to guarantee peace in Ukraine if Donald Trump is able to broker a deal. Hungary's state secretary Zoltán Kovács, the mouthpiece of right wing prime minister Viktor Orban, suggested on a trip to London that western troops in Ukraine could be an extension of a 'proxy war' against Russia. And he said that Hungary, seen as being close to Russia, would play no part in joint EU efforts. 'It's certain that Hungary 's position is very firm on this,' he said. 'Hungary is not going to participate in any kind of supply of weapons, military cooperation with Ukraine, because we have a different mandate coming from the Hungarian people.' Sir Keir has been carrying out lengthy negotiations to get a peacekeeping force made up from several countries - dubbed 'the coalition of the willing' - stationed in Ukraine to guarantee any agreement to end the war that may emerge. So far the UK and France have signed up and Germany is likely to be involved. Discussions took place last week in Kyiv to move it forward and it is likely to be on the agenda this week at the European Political Community. Hungary was present at summit in London when Sir Keir brought together EU allies from Nato and Canada to discuss Ukraine in March in the wake of President Volodymyr Zelensky's fallout with Donald Trump in the White House. The British prime minister's plan has been to ensure that Ukraine's security is guaranteed and the country is not invaded again but has met resistance from a number of Nato allies including Trump. One of the biggest obstacles behind the scenes has been Hungary among a group of other countries opposing the move. Mr Orban, who is often accused of being pro-Putin, is one of Trump's closest European allies and has been influential on his foreign policy regarding Ukraine and other matters. Mr Kovacs claimed: 'Basically you have that proxy war has been conducted for two years. Nobody talks about that, but mentions Russians. This war is being conducted not only by Ukraine, but by some Western countries.' Hungary also seems set to oppose any further sanctions against Russia because it could include energy. The minister warned that cutting off Russian energy poses 'an existential problem' for his country. He insisted his government would oppose such a move while denying accusations from critics that Hungary is 'pro-Putin and anti-Ukraine'. Downing Street rejected any suggestion that the coalition of the willing was an extension of a proxy war by the west. A Number 10 source said: "We refute that on the basis of the coalition's sole purpose being to deliver peace across the region."
Yahoo
29-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Orbán's campaign uses manipulation and lies to urge Hungarians not to support Ukraine's accession to EU
The Hungarian government, along with ballots to "poll" Hungarians on Ukraine's EU membership, has distributed counterarguments based on manipulation and downright lies. Source: European Pravda Details: On Saturday, Hungarian government spokesman Zoltán Kovács announced that Hungarians had begun to receive ballots for a "survey" along with an information sheet outlining seven "risks" of Ukraine's accession to the EU from Budapest's perspective. The first risk is that in the event of Ukraine's membership, Hungary would allegedly lose EU funding, "and all the money would go to Ukraine" (why "all" of the funds will be directed at Ukraine is not explained). "In addition, Brussels is calling for huge joint borrowings, which means that we will all become debtors together because of Ukraine's accession," the Hungarian government's video says (which also does not explain what kind of borrowings they are talking about or how they are related to Ukraine). Other "risks", according to Hungary, are related to the fact that Ukraine is a huge agricultural producer, so after accession "all EU funds will go to Ukrainian farmers", and the European market will be "open to low-quality, genetically modified Ukrainian goods". Meanwhile, the Hungarian government ignores the fact that joining the European Union requires Ukraine to adopt all European norms, including those in the field of agriculture, so this statement is outright false. The Hungarian government spokesperson also claims without evidence that Ukraine was "the centre of drug trafficking and organised crime in Eastern Europe" before the war, so "joining the EU will open up the Ukrainian mafia to enter Europe, and therefore Hungary." Other arguments from Budapest are that after Ukraine's accession to the EU, Ukrainians as cheap labour will "threaten jobs and pensions" in the EU. Ukrainians will also pose a threat to public health because "there is no mandatory vaccination in Ukraine" (in fact, there is mandatory vaccination in Ukraine), and "Ukraine's hasty accession to the EU" will jeopardise the payment of the so-called 13th pension by the Orbán government. Background: The "poll" was announced in early March by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who already acknowledged that it would take place in the format of "national consultations." Such polls are not legally binding, and only a small (up to 30%) share of Hungarian voters actually participate in them. Meanwhile, the Orbán government often refers to the results of such polls as proof that its policies have the support of citizens. The Hungarian government has already held "consultations" on Ukraine, with questions formulated in a manipulative manner. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
