The Hungarian government has banned Irish-language rap trio Kneecap from entering the country for three years, citing “anti-Semitic hate speech” and alleged support for proscribed terrorist organisations Hamas and Hezbollah.
Secretary of State for International Communication Zoltan Kovacs announced the ban on social media, stating the Belfast group’s planned performance at the Sziget Festival in August posed “a national security threat”. The band members – Naoise Ó Cairealláin, J.J. Ó Dochartaigh and Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh – will face expulsion if they attempt to enter Hungary.
The decision follows months of controversy surrounding the group, including terror charges against member Mo Chara (Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh) in the UK and the cancellation of several performances across Europe and the United States.
Terror Charges and Court Appearance
The Hungary ban comes just weeks after Ó hAnnaidh appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 18 June, charged under the UK’s Terrorism Act for allegedly displaying a Hezbollah flag during a London concert in November 2024.
The 27-year-old rapper, who was released on unconditional bail, faces up to six months in prison if convicted. The charge relates to footage showing Ó hAnnaidh allegedly displaying the flag “in such a way or in such circumstances as to arouse reasonable suspicion that he is a supporter of a proscribed organisation”, according to Metropolitan Police.
During the court hearing, Ó hAnnaidh’s defence lawyer Brenda Campbell argued the charge was brought outside the six-month statute of limitations. Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring scheduled a further hearing for 20 August to determine jurisdiction.
Hundreds of supporters gathered outside the courthouse, with the band arriving wearing Palestinian keffiyeh scarves. A van displaying the message “More Blacks, More Dogs, More Irish, Mo Chara” – referencing historical discrimination signs – drove past during the proceedings.
Festival Controversy
Hungary’s immigration authority, the National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing, issued formal decrees declaring all three band members banned from Hungarian territory for three years, stating their “entry and stay constitute a serious threat to national security.
The Sziget Festival, one of Europe’s largest music events drawing hundreds of thousands to an island in the Danube each August, had scheduled Kneecap to perform on the closing day alongside headliners Chappell Roan, Charli XCX and Shawn Mendes.
Festival organisers resisted pressure to cancel the performance, stating they had not been officially notified of the government’s decision. In a statement, Sziget said: “Our festival remains true to what we have consistently achieved over the past 30 years: there is no place for hatred, incitement, prejudice, or any form of racism or anti-Semitism.”
The organisers described the ban as “unnecessary and regrettable” and said it could “not only damage the reputation of Sziget, but also negatively affect Hungary’s standing worldwide”.
Political and Cultural Backlash
The Hungarian government had previously requested the festival drop Kneecap from the line-up, with European Affairs Minister János Bóka citing the government’s “zero-tolerance” policy toward antisemitism in a letter to organisers on 11 July.
More than 150 Hungarian artists and cultural figures, including Academy Award-winning director László Nemes Jeles, signed a petition calling for the performance to be cancelled. Kovacs stated: “Hungary has zero tolerance for antisemitism in any form. If they enter, expulsion will follow under international norms.”
The band has consistently denied supporting Hamas or Hezbollah, stating in May: “We do not, and have never, supported Hamas or Hezbollah. We condemn all attacks on civilians, always.” They accused critics of taking footage “deliberately out of context” as part of a “smear campaign” following their criticism of Israel’s actions in Gaza.
Wider Performance Cancellations
The Hungary ban is the latest in a series of controversies affecting Kneecap’s touring schedule. In June, Avon and Somerset Police investigated comments made during their Glastonbury Festival performance, though no further action was taken.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak had weighed in on the Glastonbury appearance, stating he did not think it was “appropriate” for the band to perform. The group was also reportedly dropped from Scotland’s TRNSMT festival over police safety concerns.
In April, their performance at California’s Coachella Festival sparked international controversy when they displayed messages including “Fuck Israel, Free Palestine” and accused Israel of committing genocide. Celebrity Sharon Osbourne subsequently called for their US visas to be revoked.
BAFTA Success Amid Controversy
Despite the controversies, Kneecap’s semi-fictionalised biopic achieved significant success at the BAFTA Film Awards in February 2025, winning Outstanding Debut for director Rich Peppiatt. The film, starring Oscar-nominee Michael Fassbender alongside the band members, was nominated in six categories.
In his acceptance speech, Peppiatt described Kneecap as “more than a film, it’s a movement”, adding: “It’s about how everyone should have their language respected, their culture respected, and their homeland respected. This award is dedicated to everyone out there fighting that fight.”
The film had made history as the first Irish-language film to premiere at Sundance Film Festival in January 2024, where it won the NEXT Audience Award. It has since broken box office records for an Irish-language film, earning £1.5 million domestically.
Political History
Kneecap, formed in 2017, takes its name from the brutal punishment meted out by paramilitary groups during Northern Ireland’s Troubles. The trio – Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap and DJ Próvaí – are known for their provocative lyrics mixing Irish republicanism with satirical commentary.
The group has faced consistent criticism for lyrics containing expletives and drug references, as well as their use of symbolism associated with the Irish republican movement. In November 2024, the band won a legal case against the UK government after then-minister Kemi Badenoch withdrew an arts grant worth £14,250.
Support for Kneecap has come from numerous musicians including Massive Attack, Pulp, Paul Weller and Primal Scream, who signed an open letter accusing authorities of suppressing creative freedom. Massive Attack stated: “Kneecap are not the story. Gaza is the story. Genocide is the story.”
Ongoing Legal Challenges
The terror charge against Ó hAnnaidh stems from video footage that emerged in April 2025, showing incidents from concerts in 2023 and 2024. In one video, a band member appears to say: “The only good Tory is a dead Tory. Kill your local MP” – comments for which the band later apologised to the families of murdered MPs Jo Cox and David Amess.
Kneecap maintains the footage was “exploited and weaponised” and taken out of context. Nearly 40 musicians have publicly backed the group, with the band posting on social media: “This is political policing. This is a carnival of distraction. We are not the story. Genocide is.”
As the August court date approaches and festival season continues, the Hungarian ban represents a significant escalation in the international response to Kneecap’s controversial political messaging and performance style.
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WideAwakeBrockP230525 (161 of 185) – Photo by Wild Justice, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
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