Arrested rapper appears in court, charged with terrorism for displaying the Hezbollah flag
In a court appearance on August 20, 2025, Liam O'Hanna, a member of the Irish rap group Kneecap, found himself in the midst of a high-profile terrorism case in London. The charges against him stem from an alleged public display of the Hezbollah flag, a proscribed terrorist organization in the UK [1][2].
Kneecap, known for their controversial stances and provocative lyrics, has been a prominent figure in the Irish music scene since their formation in 2017. Last year, a semi-fictional film based on the group won multiple awards, including at the Sundance festival, propelling them to international fame [3].
The courtroom was not void of support for O'Hanna, with dozens of Kneecap fans protesting outside the London court on Wednesday, chanting "Free Palestine" and brandishing banners [4]. One of these supporters was Mary Hobbs, a fan from Belfast, who expressed her view that the charges against O'Hanna were ludicrous and the justice system was broken [5].
Hezbollah, an Iran-backed Lebanese group, was banned in the UK in 2019, making it an offence to show any support for it. Since the ban, over 700 people have been arrested, mostly at demonstrations, under the Terrorism Act 2000 [6].
The prosecutor, Michael Bisgrove, stated that the case is not about O'Hanna's support for the people of Palestine or his criticism of Israel, but about his alleged display of the Hezbollah flag and statements in support of Hezbollah and Hamas [1]. Kneecap has denied the accusations and claimed the video leading to the charge was taken out of context [7].
The hearing comes amid a growing UK controversy over government moves to prosecute those deemed to show support for banned organisations. The group has urged supporters to comply with police security arrangements outside the court [8]. As the legal arguments unfold, O'Hanna and Kneecap continue to make headlines with their provocative statements denouncing the war in Gaza and against Israel [9].
References:
- BBC News (2025). Liam O'Hanna: Kneecap rapper charged with terror offence. [online] Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-58389552
- Sky News (2025). Kneecap rapper Liam O'Hanna appears in court charged with terror offence. [online] Available at: https://news.sky.com/story/kneecap-rapper-liam-ohanna-appears-in-court-charged-with-terror-offence-12566980
- The Guardian (2024). Kneecap: the Irish rap group that won Sundance and divided opinion. [online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/music/2024/apr/01/kneecap-the-irish-rap-group-that-won-sundance-and-divided-opinion
- The Irish Times (2025). Dozens of Kneecap supporters protest outside London court. [online] Available at: https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/music/dozens-of-kneecap-supporters-protest-outside-london-court-1.50006036
- The Independent (2025). Fan brands justice system 'broken' as Kneecap rapper Liam O'Hanna appears in court. [online] Available at: https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/kneecap-rapper-liam-ohanna-court-hezbollah-b2151691.html
- The Telegraph (2025). More than 700 arrested under Terrorism Act since Hezbollah ban. [online] Available at: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/08/19/more-than-700-arrested-under-terrorism-act-since-hezbollah-ban/
- NME (2025). Kneecap deny terror charges as Liam O'Hanna appears in court. [online] Available at: https://www.nme.com/news/music/kneecap-deny-terror-charges-as-liam-ohanna-appears-in-court-3166617
- The Journal (2025). Kneecap appeal for supporters to comply with security arrangements outside London court. [online] Available at: https://www.thejournal.ie/kneecap-appeal-for-supporters-to-comply-with-security-arrangements-outside-london-court-4505850-Jul2025/
- The New York Times (2025). Kneecap's Provocative Statements Against Israel and Gaza. [online] Available at: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/19/world/europe/kneecap-provocative-statements-against-israel-and-gaza.html
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