Kneecap have been banned from entering Hungary for three years, government spokesman Zoltán Kovács has revealed on X.
Outlining the reasons for the ban, Kovacs said the Irish rappers had “repeatedly engaged in antisemitic hate speech supporting terrorism and terrorist groups”. He also said that the trio’s planned performance at Budapest’s Sziget Festival, which has now been cancelled, “posed a national security threat”.
Responding to the ban, Kneecap apologised to their fans who would no longer be able to see the play live at Sziget, and described the country’s government, led by Viktor Orbán, as “authoritarian”. They also called out his decision to host Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu to the countrty “like a hero” in recent weeks.
The statement continued: “There is no legal basis for his actions, no member of Kneecap has ever been convicted of any crime in any country. We stand against all ahte crimes and Kneecap champions love and solidarity as well as calling out injustices where we see it.
“It’s clear this is political distraction and a further attempt to silence those who call out genocide against the Palestinian people. Much like the good people of Budapest, who defied their own President’s ban on their ‘Pride Parade’ in June, we will fight for what is right.”
Representatives of Sziget described the ban as “an unprecedented move which we believe is both unnecessary and regrettable”. They added: “Following concerns raised by Government and pressure groups across Hungary over the past weeks at the prospect of Kneecap performing, we have liaised closely with the band and they reassured us that their performance would not contravene either Sziget’s values or Hungarian law.”
A statement provided by the event continued: “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.”
Last month, Kneecap’s Mo Chara was granted unconditional bail in the UK on a terror charge related to an alleged display of support for Hezbollah, the Lebanese militant group. The case will properly commence on August 20, when legal arguments will be presented by both the prosecution and defence. If convicted, he faces up to six months in prison and a fine.
The Irish group have come under significant scrutiny since speaking out publicly in support of Palestine and displaying anti-Israel messages during their appearance at this year’s Coachella festival. That performance led to footage of a 2024 incident at a London gig by the group being put back into circulation, which generated further criticism from some quarters and led to the terror charge for Chara.
After the charge against Mo Chara was filed, Kneecap released a statement, saying: “Let us be unequivocal: we do not, and have never, supported Hamas or Hezbollah. We condemn all attacks on civilians, always. It is never okay.” On social media, they described the charge as “political policing” and “a carnival of distraction” from the UK government’s support of the Israeli government.
Kneecap, the trio completed by Naoise “Móglaí Bap” Ó Caireallain and JJ “DJ Próvaí” Ó Dochartaigh, broke through with the 2024 album Fine Art, as well as a self-titled semi-autobiographical film.
