Canada bars Irish rap group Kneecap over alleged terror group support

The Carney government is barring the Irish rap group Kneecap from entering Canada, saying the group has endorsed political violence and terrorism.

The group has denied supporting Hamas or Hezbollah. In a post on social media, the group called the accusation “baseless.”

“No member of Kneecap has been convicted of ANY crime in ANY country EVER,” the group said in a social media statement.

Jewish groups had been asking Ottawa since June to ban the group, along with the English punk-rap duo Bob Vylan, over comments they argued served to incite antisemitism.

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Liberal MP Vince Gasparro, parliamentary secretary for combating crime, says Kneecap has “publicly displayed support for terrorist organizations such as Hezbollah and Hamas” that goes beyond artistic expression.

His announcement, made in a video posted this morning to social media, did not mention Bob Vylan.

Kneecap had been scheduled to perform next month in Toronto and Vancouver.

The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs says the decision is a stand against “incitement, hate and radicalization,” while B’nai Brith is declaring “victory.”