Belfast rap trio banned from Hungary for three years

The west Belfast rap group Kneecap have been banned from Hungary for three years, its state secretary for International Communication has said.

In a statement on social media, Zoltan Kovacs said the band members “repeatedly engage in anti-Semitic hate speech supporting terrorism and terrorist groups”.

The band was supposed to perform at the Sziget Festival, in Budapest, in August.

Kneecap have previously said they have never supported Hamas or Hezbollah.

Kovacs also said: “Hungary has zero tolerance for antisemitism in any form.”

“Their planned performance posed a national security threat, and for this reason, the group has been formally banned from Hungary for three years.”

“If they enter, expulsion will follow under international norms,” he added.

Kneecap rapper Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, who is known as Mo Chara, appeared in court in June charged with a terror offence after allegedly displaying a flag in support of proscribed organisation Hezbollah at a London gig.

Both Hamas and Hezbollah are banned in the UK and it is a crime to express support for them.

He was released on unconditional bail and in a statement, posted on social media in May, Kneecap said: “We deny this ‘offence’ and will vehemently defend ourselves.”

Avon and Somerset Police launched a criminal investigation into comments made on stage by the band after their performance at Glastonbury in June, but decided no further action would be taken.

The question over whether Kneecap should even perform at Glastonbury drew comment over the weeks before the festival, with the prime minister stepping in to say he did not think it was “appropriate“.

The band said they were axed from the TRNSMT music festival in Glasgow over police concerns about safety.

Kneecap had faced weeks of controversy over their pro-Palestinian stance, with Sharon Osbourne calling for their US visas to be revoked over messages they displayed on stage at Coachella.

Kneecap are an Irish-speaking rap trio who have courted controversy with their provocative lyrics and merchandise.

The group was formed in 2017 by three musicians who go by the stage names of Mo Chara, Móglaí Bap and DJ Próvaí.

Their rise to fame inspired a semi-fictionalised film starring Oscar-nominated actor Michael Fassbender.

The film won a British Academy of Film Award (Bafta) in February 2025.

In April, the group faced criticism after displaying messages about the war in Gaza during their set at US music festival Coachella.

In November 2024, the group won its case against the UK government over a decision Kemi Badenoch took when she was a minister to withdraw an arts grant.