Irish rap trio Kneecap say their ban from Hungary, where they were due to perform at one of Europe’s largest music festivals, is “political distraction”.
The Belfast-based band – who regularly display pro-Palestinian messages during their gigs – were to take the stage on the final day of the six-day Sziget Festival, on 11 August.
However, they have been issued a three-year ban by Hungarian authorities, who have accused the band of using antisemitic hate speech and expressing praise for the militant group Hamas.
"Hungary's government has moved to ban Kneecap from entering the country and performing at Sziget ... citing antisemitic hate speech and open praise for Hamas and Hezbollah as justification," government spokesperson Zoltan Kovacs wrote in a post on X.
Mr Kovacs later posted the official letters from immigration authorities banning the band for three years, claiming that their entry would "seriously threaten national security".
Kneecap have caused controversy in recent months, including at Glastonbury Festival, where member Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh – who performs under the name Mo Chara – accused Israel of committing war crimes.
He is due to reappear in Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 20 August to face a terrorism-related charge for allegedly displaying a Hezbollah flag at an earlier gig.
He denies the offence, with the band calling the accusations a “carnival of distraction” from the war in Gaza.
The band has said previously that its members do not support Hamas or Hezbollah, and that it condemns "all attacks on civilians, always".
On Thursday afternoon, Kneecap posted a message on their social media channels calling the ban “political distraction” and a “further attempt to silence those who call out genocide against the Palestinian people”.
“There is no legal basis for [the government’s] actions, no member of Kneecap has ever been convicted of any crime in any country,” the statement said.
“We stand against all hate crimes and Kneecap champions love and solidarity as well as calling out injustices where we see it.
“Much like the good people of Budapest, who defied their own President’s ban on their ‘Pride Parade’ in June, we will fight on for what is right.”
Hungary's government had already asked festival organisers to drop Kneecap from the line-up at the week-long event, which draws several hundred thousand music lovers to an island in the River Danube each year.
More than 150 artists and cultural figures, including Academy Award-winning director Laszlo Nemes Jeles, have also signed a petition protesting against Kneecap's participation.
Festival organisers said in a statement that the Hungarian government’s “unprecedented” move was “both unnecessary and regrettable”.
They had liaised closely with the band in recent weeks and “they reassured us that their performance would not contravene either Sziget’s values or Hungarian law”, the statement said.
“Sziget Festival’s values mean we condemn hate speech, while guaranteeing the fundamental right to artistic freedom of expression for every performer. Cancel culture and cultural boycotts are not the solution.
“We fear that [the] government’s decision announced today to ban Kneecap may not only damage the reputation of Sziget, but also negatively affect Hungary’s standing worldwide.”
Sziget's other performers this year include Post Malone, Shawn Mendes and Charli XCX.
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