Last month, British authorities charged Kneecap member Mo Chara with terrorism after the Belfast rap group made highly publicized statements in support of the people of Palestine at their Coachella performance. Amidst what the group called “a coordinated smear campaign,” old videos of the group’s performance resurfaced, and that seems to be what led to the charges against Chara. At a London show last year, the 27-year-old rapper, whose real name is, Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, seemingly wrapped himself in a Hezbollah flag and yelled, “Up Hamas! Up Hezbollah!” The UK government defines Hamas and Hezbollah as terrorist organizations and any statement in support of them as a crime. Today, Chara made his first court appearance behind the charges, and he was released on unconditional bail.
